• 1,275cc Cooper Replica in lovely order

• Solid and superbly presented

• Freshly imported to the UK with all papers

• Complete engine overhaul

With the benefits of instant familiarity and terrific driver appeal, it’s no surprise that the market for Minis is pretty strong at the moment. 

But there’s also a bit of a problem. For years, Mini fans have been buying and personalising their cars from a seemingly limitless supply – unsurprising when you consider that around half of the four million cars made were sold here. But these days, good ones are getting harder and harder to track down.

There is, though, one reliable source of good, rot-free and often unusual right-hand-drive Minis which are generally in remarkable structural condition – and that’s South Africa. 

British Leyland built them out there, at a plant in Blackheath, near Cape Town, so the Mini was as much a cult car in ZA as it was over here.

The vendor of this car specialises in dry climate South African classics, having worked in the motor trade in the country himself for a decade. Since returning home to the UK he has maintained his contacts there and works with them to source unusual, interesting or very, very good examples of RHD cars that are difficult to get hold of over here – and rot-free Minis are a bit of a speciality.

This one has come from an enthusiast and has had a cosmetic refurbishment and mechanical overhaul. It’s now here in the UK, in Norfolk, awaiting its next owner.

It’s a fair bet that the Mini now looks a little different to when it left British Leyland South Africa’s plant in Blackheath 44 years ago! It appears to have spent most of its life in Dundee, in the mountains between Johannesburg and Durban, but that’s as much as is really known. 

It was acquired  by the vendor this year. He regularly sources excellent right-hand-drive cars from South Africa having lived there previously himself and gained a number of contacts in the motor trade. 

It is now situated at the vendor’s business premises in Norfolk and all of the import paperwork is complete ready for the car’s next owner. It has not been UK registered, but the process will simply be a case of sending off the V55/5 form to the DVLA – the NOVA paperwork and import duties have been sorted and the car has a full UK MOT. 

The seller hasn’t registered it himself as to do so would add an extra owner to the logbook as well as make it harder to export the car if the ultimate buyer lives overseas, but is happy to help the new owner do this.

As well as all the relevant import papers and a South African registration document, the Mini will be supplied with a full UK MOT.

There is no other paper history with the vehicle. 

The Mini looks stunning in Brilliant White with a black roof and the quality of the paint job is excellent. 

It has a Nineties Cooper vibe; the previous owner having modernised the exterior with fatter arches, bigger wheels and a two-tone colour scheme.

Beneath the paint, there’s what appears to be a very sound car, with no discernible corrosion in any of the regular Mini places. The sills, A-pillars, front wings, boot floor, rear lower quarters, bulkhead, scuttle panel, floor pans and screen surround are all in very good order, and anyone who knows their Minis will tell you these are the essential checks.

Wat we could see of the underside (and it sits pretty low) looked decent, too, and the vendor reports that is in good, solid order and was undersealed and wax protected at the time of its recommissioning. 

It has also had a brand new set of tyres fitted on its 13-inch Minilite-style wheels in readiness for its UK MOT test. 

A complete retrim was carried out as part of the Mini’s refurbishment and the cabin is now trimmed in smart and fresh-smelling black leather. It also received new carpets at the same time, along with a new three-spoke steering wheel and a general refresh. 

It enjoys typical Mini simplicity: there’s not much in there, but what there is, is in fine fettle.

At some point in its life, the Mini has had its original 998cc engine replaced with a later 1,275cc unit.

The powerplant has been completely overhauled ahead of it being imported to the UK and it starts and runs brilliantly. 

We were able to conduct a short evaluation drive of the car on private land and can confirm that it holds a steady temperature, with no leaks or rattles. The brakes work fine, as does the four-speed transmission. 

In typical Mini fashion, it promises to be an absolute scream to drive. 

Finding a rot-free Mini at a sensible price isn’t that easy today, so the idea of one from a dry climate that has never been driven on a salted road makes a lot of sense. 

This car is just that – a solid Mini built up to the owner’s personal tastes on a rot-free original bodyshell, and with a few added and entertaining performance tweaks. It’s a really likeable replica of the later Rover Coopers, and probably a safer bet than many of the genuine UK cars on the market.

Notice to bidders