Highlights

Confirmed by Rover as the 1st of only 250 Limited Edition Mini 40s produced for the UK
36,082 warranted miles
One registered keeper from new
Reported unmodified from factory specification
Body restoration carried out in 2015 with invoices and photographic documentation with a cost of £13,000
Comprehensive history file including original purchase invoice, service records, MOTs and tax discs

The Appeal

The Rover Mini 40 was a limited edition produced in 1999 to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic original, with just 250 examples allocated to the UK market. This particular car holds a special distinction: a letter from Rover included with the sale confirms it as the very first of those 250.

Retained by a single registered keeper since new and always garaged, this Mini 40 remains entirely unmodified from its factory specification. A £13,000 body restoration was undertaken in 2015, including rustproofing, and the vendor reports that approximately 3,500 miles have been covered since then. The history file contains the original purchase invoice, Rover price list, service bills, MOTs and tax discs, along with a USB stick documenting the restoration work. Also included is the original Rover metal attaché case received after purchase, housing a replica concertina-style logbook, a diecast 1/43rd-scale Mini model, and the aforementioned letter from Rover.

For collectors, this is a well-documented, carefully kept example with notable provenance.

Key Information

Mileage: 36,082 miles (warranted by service records and MOT history)
Country of registration: United Kingdom
Technical inspection status: MOT valid until 1st March 2027
Technical specs: 1,275cc transverse inline four-cylinder petrol, four-speed manual
Paperwork: original purchase invoice, Rover price list, service bills, MOTs, tax discs and restoration documentation included

Service history:

01/20 – 35,003 miles – Temple Engineering

Scheduled mileage/interval service maintenance

12/16 – Mileage Unlisted – Temple Engineering

Scheduled interval service stamp

12/15 – Mileage Unlisted – Temple Engineering

Maintenance service inspection

12/13 – 31,923 miles – Service Agent Unlisted

Periodic routine maintenance logging

06/12 – 30,440 miles – Service Agent Unlisted

Interval service update entry

12/11 – 27,169 miles – Service Agent Unlisted

Periodic service update entry

12/10 – 25,731 miles – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Main vehicle service operation

12/09 – Mileage Unlisted – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Independent Volvo and Citroën Specialist annual maintenance service

11/08 – 19,719 miles – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Scheduled service and manufacturer anti-corrosion warranty inspection

11/07 – 20,976 miles – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Manufacturer routine scheduled service operation

11/06 – 17,549 miles – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Annual service routine and anti-corrosion inspection checklist

11/05 – 15,554 miles – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Scheduled main service check

11/04 – 9,262 miles – Stephens (The Old Sack Factory)

Routine independent mechanical multi-point service inspection

11/02 – 6,138 miles – Dutton Forshaw Maidstone

Main vehicle scheduled interval check

01/01 – 3,063 miles – Dutton Forshaw Maidstone

Scheduled operational service inspection

04/00 – 1,499 miles – Dutton Forshaw Maidstone

6,000-mile (6-month) scheduled interval service check

12/99 – 789 miles – Rover Dutton Forshaw Maidstone

First service voucher inspection pass

The Detail

2015 body restoration continues to hold up well
A couple of small paint chips noted along one edge of the strip from the roof to the wheel arch
The vendor describes the interior as showing small signs of carpet use, with seats showing no wear
Oil pressure gauge is not working; all other instruments, controls and radio/CD reportedly operate correctly
Soundproofing on the engine compartment bulkhead has been destroyed by mice and will need replacing
The vendor reports the car starts and runs without issue
Very slight oil leak noted on previous MOTs; garage advised it was not necessarily worth rectifying

BEFORE YOU BUY

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