Ask a stranger on the street what the first British classic car that pops into their head is and, chances are it’ll be a Mini. Car design, or in fact design in general, has rarely created pieces as iconic as the Rover Mini which was brought to market in 1959. 

The world fell in love with this quirky little four-seater which brought motoring to the masses and offered a great, fun car to be enjoyed by all. The press instantly picked up on its fantastically unique ‘go-kart-like’ handling, as did motorsport… Fast-becoming a three-time winner of the Monte Carlo Rally.

With its many celebrity fans and a cult following, the Rover Mini had become a fashionable, highly desired accessory as much as a practical vehicle and in 1995 Rover responded to this with a series of special editions. Among them was the Mini Sidewalk which we have for auction here. Featuring a punchy 1275 cc engine mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox, the Sidewalk special edition boasted exclusive graphics, a characterful tartan interior and was finished in the eye-catching Kingfisher Blue.

Five former keepers have cherished this Mini and together have accrued just 54,000 miles across its 26-year life with one lady having owned it for 19 of those years. Its most recent owner purchased the car in November 2020 as something of a project to keep himself busy in his retirement. A partial restoration was professionally undertaken and was finished in May of this year.

The original owner’s handbook and Rover wallet accompanies the car and includes a service book with plenty of stamps accrued over the years, ending with the most recent service completed this Summer. The owner has the V5 and a smattering of recent invoices for the restoration work. The MOT will be renewed for the buyer upon the completion of the sale.

At the heart of the Sidewalk edition lies this wonderful Tartan interior trim, a nod to British Leyland interiors of the 1970s and a feature which adds some fantastic character and colour to the inside of this Mini.

The fabric condition is all round good, with some expected wear to be found though nothing detracts from the overall appeal. There are no holes, rips or tears to the fabric and everything smells and looks clean. The simple dash is tidy and uncluttered, with an original Rover radio still present and the special edition ‘Sidewalk’ embossed steering wheel.

Owing to a complete respray just two months ago in original Kingfisher Blue has left this special little car looking factory fresh. As part of the restoration, the owner had all brightwork replaced along with new stainless-steel bumpers, a new windscreen and all new glass, door and boot seals. The OEM look was completed with a set of new badges, door mirrors and even wheel arches. The owner sourced four new Minilite style Rover alloys, powder coated in silver and wrapped in some fast, brand new Yokohama tyres, including the spare wheel. Images provided by the seller even show the recently sealed underside of the car looking in clean, presentable condition.

It’s safe to say that this must be one of the best-looking examples of such a rare, special edition car on the market.

Mechanically this Mini wants for nothing, following a recent oil and filter service, a replacement battery and a low-stress life. The car started and ran smoothly upon our viewing with no untoward noises. We’re told that it car drives perfectly and the new owner should expect to enjoy many more trouble-free miles.

 

The appeal of Classic Mini’s barely needs to be explained; they’re iconic looking, fantastically fun driving cars that are loved by many. This rare Sidewalk edition is one of very few remaining, making it a great investment and a unique sight on the road. Better yet, thanks to the recent restoration, this example demands nothing other than a keen new owner to put the key in the ignition and push down on its pedals.