Highlights
- Stunning paintwork – restored to a high standard
- Near flawless interior with seats trimmed in leather
- Walnut trim in good order
- Current owner is a classic car enthusiast and fastidious with maintenance
The Appeal
When Alec Issigonis first penned the Mini, back in 1956, little did he realise what a cultural icon his economical super mini would become. By pairing the compact car with a sporty engine, the Cooper were born which dominated the racetrack against much more powerful opposition, thanks to their low weight and agile handling. Its domination of the Monte Carlo rally in the early Sixties cemented the Mini’s place in motorsport.
A star of the silver screen – thanks to films such as The Italian Job – the Mini is an enduring classic and this example represents one of the later models off the line before production switched to the BMW-influenced car.
This matching numbers Mk VII has been painstakingly restored to better-than-new condition with a stunning respray and has been upgraded with a leather interior. The current owner is a classic car enthusiast and has carefully combed over every inch of this car to bring it up to his standards. The paintwork and interior are better than new, while the engine bay and underside are clean enough to eat your dinner off. It’s a stunning example.
The History and Paperwork
- V5C in owner’s name
- Model only ran from 1996 to 2000
- Photographic evidence of restoration work
- Extensive folder of invoices
- Two keys and one alarm fob
- MoT’d until April 2024
- No advisories on last three MoTs
- Has covered under 1,000 miles since 2020
The Interior
- Black and red leather seat trim added and is in superb condition
- Black doorcards with red stitching are in perfect condition
- Red carpets and seatbelts are unmarked
- Velour-style headlining is unripped and unmarked with no sagging
- Original Mini Cooper airbag three-spoke steering wheel in good order
- Full width walnut panel with glovebox
- Cream-coloured dials offset the walnut dashboard well
- Sony CDX-GT23 CD tuner fitted (no holes cut in door cards – has speakers inset on parcel shelf)
- Custom-made boot board added to boot luggage space
The Exterior
- Paintwork looks super smooth and has been refinished to a high standard
- Front wing lines are perfect and door shuts are even
- Roof paintwork is impeccable
- Even the underside of the boot lid and bonnet are immaculate
- Tiny chip on boot hinge and small swirl on front wing
- Underside is very solid and looks in excellent order
- Front spotlight, headlight and indicator lenses are in excellent condition
- Tail-lights and foglamp lenses all uncracked and in good order
- All alloy wheels are unmarked and do not have external wheel weights on them
- Four matching Nankang CX668 tyres in 145/70-12 size (dated 2010) have ample tread
- Spare wheel is a matching alloy wheel shod with an Ilink L-grip tyre in 145/70-12 size
The Mechanics
- Engine bay looks immaculate and is in first rate order
- 1.3-litre 62bhp twin-point injection model with coil-pack for reliable running
- Current owner has meticulously gone through the vehicle
- Car started easily and moved without complaint during photoshoot
- Brakes have been overhauled by current owner
- Copper piped brake lines
- New battery fitted
- Said to drive well without any issues
The vendor would also like to clarify the reason for the word "No!" being painted in bright yellow on the underside of each corner. "I have done this to try to stop mechanics/tyre fitters lifting up the vehicle on what they believe to be Jacking Points. They are not jacking points and have no structural integrity. When used in this way the floor at that point is crushed out of shape or worse. What look like pads for jacking are in fact Sling Shoes used in the build process to move body shells around the factory."
Summary
This is not your usual Mini Cooper and has been restored to show standard by the current owner who maintains fastidiously – there have been no MoT advisories under this care. The paintwork has been resprayed to a very high standard while the interior looks like new. With the benefit of that electronic ignition and fuel-injection it’s a low-maintenance way to enjoy a stunning classic Mini.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
