It’s a testament to the brilliance of the original Mini’s design that when the Cooper went on sale in late 1961, it would remain a core part of the Mini lineup for almost forty years. Many Coopers were raced or worked hard on a daily basis, though others led a more tranquil existence.
 
This 1996 Rover Mini Cooper appears to have led a very quiet life. Its odometer displays just 26,340 miles, with VOSA paperwork suggesting it’s travelled less than 2,000 miles over the last twenty years. It was purchased from a previous owner who worked in film and TV, so it’s quite possible N476XOV enjoyed cameo roles in Millennial movies or programmes, rather than battling through rush-hour traffic or slogging up and down motorways.
 
Grey paintwork gleams below a gloss white roof, and the deep-dish eight-spoke alloy wheels appear to be in very good condition, surrounded by Yokohama tyres with healthy tread. A bank of four chrome spotlamps sits ahead of a matching grille with a Mini Cooper badge proudly sitting above it; that logo is reprised on the head restraints, which (like the rest of the seats) were reclad in black-and-white leather in 2014.
 
Some mechanical elements are clearly non-standard, like the central twin exhaust, but these resemble sympathetic revisions to the original car. The interior is a fine place to spend time, with a trilogy of black-on-white dials and three matching Smiths auxiliary dials set into a walnut dashboard behind a three-spoke Cooper-branded steering wheel. An Alpine head unit powers a bank of speakers below the rear seats, with an Apple Lightning connector in the glovebox. The engine bay appears clean, as does the car’s underbody, reflecting what seems to have been a remarkably quiet back story for this unique Cooper.

BEFORE YOU BUY 

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 

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