Highlights

• One of only 1,750 built - and only 750 built for Italy
• Left Hand Drive example
• Impressive programme of mechanical works reported by the vendor
• Nicely appointed retrimmed interior with leather seats

The Appeal

This example is one that’s been extensively modified, now carrying a strong resemblance to Charlize Theron's Mini in the 2003 all-American remake of The Italian Job. Still carrying its distinctive twin-flag branding, it’s been retrimmed and cosmetically modified to make a superb tribute to one of the world’s greatest tunes - The Ace of Spades by Motörhead. We’re pretty sure Lemmy would have heavily approved.

The History and Paperwork

• Limited Italian edition of only 750 cars
• Indicates 90,896km on a five-figure odometer
• Originally a show car for BM Autio Srl, Rome in 1993
• Purchased, modified and re-registered in 2006
• Sold to third owner - a collector - in 2012, who underwent a cosmetic restoration
• Purchased by current vendor in 2014 and extensively modified
• Car as reportedly a daily driver for the first 3-4 years of ownership
• Now been stored dry in a private garage for 2 years

The Interior

• Retrimmed interior with red and black leather seating
• Custom-made replacement floor moquette and headlining
• New leather door cards in red and black 
• New Radica wood dashboard 
• Newly fitted clock
• Fresh aluminium detailing including door and window handles
• Motörhead themed sticker to the dashboard
• Seats appear to be in excellent order with no rips, scuffs or tears
• Carpets and headlining in very good condition with no visible wear
• Dashboard in excellent order - however some work to the surround wouldn’t go amiss 
• Instruments are all clean and readable with no major flaws
• Aluminium handles all in excellent order with minimal wear
• Original Italian flag steering wheel in good condition
• Stylish wooden-trimmed gearstick shows minimal wear
• Italian Job sticker to the centre console, as fitted with the car
• Aftermarket Kenwood stereo/CD player installed 
• Boot in good order, with red carpets and additional ‘Ace of Spades’ detailing
• All electrics inspected and renewed in 2018 with no issues reported

The Exterior 

• Original flame red with white racing stripe paintwork
• Modified to feature a white roof and plastic wheel arches
• Numerous additional chrome trims including lights, bumper and roof
• Motörhead / Ace of Spades decals added
• Never been formally restored, only maintained
• Loss of guttering where the pillars meet the trim
• Roof trim has come loose in places and may need refitting
• The glue from the roof trim appears to have caused some paint damage 
• All other seals and seams appear to be clean and free of major problems
• Plastic wheel arches are showing some colour loss and cracking to the paint
• Paintwork itself shows age-commensurate wear
• White accented mirrors, stripes and roof are in generally fair order
• Decals display nicely and appear to have been professionally applied
• Fitted with white ‘Superlight’ aluminium rims
• Recently fitted Yokohama tyres that have plenty of tread
• Sills show some slight deterioration and may need some light remedial work
• Underneath, the offside rear is showing some wear
• The vendor reports that this is superficial only
• Wheel arches look to be in good order
• Suspension appears to be in good condition with no major faults we can highlight

The Mechanics 

• Originally powered by the Mini 1275 powerplant producing 50hp
• Modifications made by current owner bring this to ‘about 90hp’ including:
  • New single carburettor
  • New ported carburettor manifold
  • New ported and lowered engine head
  • Aluminium head cover with red lid
  • New Aluminium Racing radiator
  • New clutch, fitted in 2016 (around 15km ago)
  • New enlarged water pump
  • Full Inox exhaust manifolds and dual straight exhaust
  • Larger Titanium valves
  • Dual stiff springs
  • 1.5:1 Roller Tip Rocker by Minisport
• Despite these changes and the new exhaust, it's completely road legal
• 4-speed manual exhaust
• Engine bay is in good, clean condition with minor signs of wear
• No reported faults from the vendor, who remarks that the car starts first time with no issues
• The vendor reports that the downgraded Mini now matches the Mini Cooper for performance - if not slightly exceeds it

Summary