Description
Quite simply, one of the most attractive, original and well preserved examples of a classic Mini Cooper to be found.
If you’re in the market for one and didn’t already know, when it comes to buying. a classic Mini you have a few main options.
1. A museum piece that hasn’t been driven since leaving the factory. Lovely if you can afford it, but best left to collectors and often requiring restoration before it can be driven.
2. Restored/ customised/ enthusiast-owned. Fun to own and drive, but often very little of the original car remaining.
3. A well-driven daily runabout. Often superficially attractive, from a distance, but high mileage, and heavily corroded.
And finally, ones like this:
4. Bought as an investment, but also to be enjoyed. High spec, low mileage. Kept indoors, driven in the dry. Properly maintained. Rust free.
With this particular example, you’re getting one of the latter.
Striking to look at; from the unblemished flame red paintwork (Mini Coopers were born to be red), to the classy Lucas headlamp covers, to the Cooper alloy rocker cover, to the embossed leather seats. Every detail cries refinement and distinguishes this absolute gem as one of the finest classic Minis around.
To drive, it’s the same story. From the whine of the 4-speed gearbox and the rasp of the the exhaust, to the feeling of acceleration and razor-sharp cornering—it 100% delivers on the legendary classic Mini experience, making even the most mundane trips around town feel like a session on Mario Kart. It’s little wonder Enzo Ferrari drove one at weekends (true story).
HISTORY
I purchased this from one of the UK’s most prestigious classic car dealers around two years ago. In that time I’ve replaced the entire suspension (which was still original and had perished through age) as well as the tyres (same story) and centre and rear exhaust (victims of the low suspension). All with quality parts from MiniSport. The rest, remains as close to original as you’ll find.
At the last MOT, the tester, having owned several himself, remarked on having never seen such a well preserved, rust free example.
WHY I'M SELLING
Life has changed, and the time has come to let it go. It’s not a decision made lightly—but it feels like the right time for it to bring the same joy to someone else's life that it has brought to mine.
WHY YOU SHOULD OWN ONE
Ask anyone who’s owned a classic Mini and they’ll give you some version of the same story. It’s not a car you buy for practicality. It’s not terribly well suited to commuting or shopping trips or family holidays. It has different keys for the doors, fuel tank and ignition; rubbish in-car entertainment and no cup holders.
But this isn't a car you buy because it's sensible.
It’s a car you own to rediscover that feeling of how you imagined driving would be, when you were 10 years old—pure joy.
You don’t just own it, you feel it—every time you open the garage, every time someone smiles at the lights, and every time you take the long way home.
