1987 Austin Mini Mayfair

This 1987 Mini Mayfair Automatic boasts as straightforward and appealing a provenance as one is likely to find with a 36-year-old city car. The current owner bought the Mini brand new from Knowle Hill Garage in August 1987. The car was bought for his wife, and it has remained in the same ownership ever since.

During this period, this diminutive car has covered a mere 31,293 miles. MoT records show that the Mini has covered just 1,200 of that total in the last 15 years. The vendor suggests that the car was overhauled in around 2005 and a current MoT with just one advisory is in place. That aside, it is fair to say that the Mini offers the new owner room for some further improvement, especially in terms of the cosmetic condition of the Mayfair. With its current roadworthy condition this Mini, then, represents the perfect candidate for a rolling restoration or enjoyable project to be tackled at the new owner’s leisure.

This Mini Mayfair was specified in the very sophisticated Eclipse Blue (BLVC459), a shade very similar to the Mayfair property square in Monopoly. Knowledgeable onlookers in 1987 would recognise your shrewd choice of the range topping Mini by the wheel arch extensions, flush disk wheel trims, tinted glass and Mayfair script decals on the flanks and boot lid.

Our example wears its originality with pride and looks in reasonable fettle from a modest distance. The car appears mostly devoid of significant dents and panel gaps look tight and symmetrical. Most panels seem to exude a decent level of shine and light lenses and cabin glass all look to be in good, original order.

On closer inspection there are a number of areas of potential cosmetic improvement revealed. The bonnet seems to have significantly lost its lustre with the lacquer appearing to have suffered more than other panels. Some surface rust has broken through the paint around the headlamps and down into the scuttle behind the bumper. A couple of car park dents are also noted to the leading edge of the bonnet and offside wing. Both doors exhibit the early signs of rust bubbles towards their bottom edges. Other minor imperfections are present and dilligently photographed for your review.

This cheeky looking Mini rolls on 12-inch pressed steel wheels. These are fitted with original and factory specification plastic wheel trims with embossed British Leyland flashes to their centres. These are shod with a mixed set of 145/70 tyres. A glass tilting sunroof is fitted to enhance ventilation and help flood the cabin with light. On the boot lid a discreet “Automatic” badge is present, marking this out as a far rarer self-shifting example.

The Mayfair’s cabin was where this classy model really differentiated itself from its humbler brethren. Our car is trimmed with the velour-esque Bounty Blue Raschelle fabric. This is gently ribbed to the seat faces and stitched into horizontal box pleats to provide some visual interest and contrast. The front seats are complete with generously padded headrests which is a feature not to be taken for granted in Minis of this vintage. The seat backs are adjustable via a lever at the hinge and a pull-out knob tilts the seats forward for access to the rear cabin.

The rear bench is identically trimmed and appears to be in an excellent overall condition. A pair of lap straps are fitted, and the signature Mini side pockets formed from the body structure are in evidence. Side panels and door cards are also finished in the Bounty Blue fabric lending the Mini a surprisingly plush and comfortable persona.

By 1987 the instrument cluster had moved directly ahead of the driver, sitting low in their own hooded binnacle. The three-gauge set consists of a white on black speedometer, tachometer and multi-purpose central gauge monitoring water temperature and fuel level. These sit behind a chunky three spoke steering wheel. The full width storage shelf from the earliest Minis remains and a smattering of rocker switches populate the centre panel. The original Philips push button radio is fitted.

The boot provides a home to the spare wheel and original jack. The vinyl mat appears to be present if not currently fitted. A box of spare bulbs and a file of well used looking maps are also present looking like they may have been inherited from a much older car.

By 1987 the Mini Mayfair was utilising the venerable 998cc four-cylinder engine in revised “A-Plus” form. The A-Plus boasted quite a number of useful upgrades, mostly aimed at improving longevity and lengthening service intervals rather than winning more traffic light Grand Prix. These included stronger blocks and cranks and lighter pistons and improved rings. More modern SU carburettors and revised manifold also featured and, as a result, service intervals were stretched from 6,000 to 12,000 miles accordingly. Hindsight has also shown that the A-Plus engines are generally longer lived than their predecessors meaning that the upgrade was £30M well spent by British Leyland in 1982. In our car the much rarer four speed AP MKII gearbox is fitted with the 40bhp and 50Ib ft of torque being fed to the front wheels.

Lifting the bonnet reveals that this A-Plus engine has seemingly been exposed to the weather with more surface rust appearing on the block than may be expected. A side effect of the transverse layout, however, is that the forward-facing side of the block is exposed to the elements entering through the radiator grill when driving in wet weather. The underside of the car seems to be admirably straight and solid with ample original looking underseal in evidence.

There is some useful, provenance providing paperwork included with the Mayfair. Although not pictured, the current V5 registration document is thought to be present. The car is accompanied with a current MoT with just one advisory which is valid until March 2024.

The original book pack is usefully present. This comprises of the driver’s manual, original Supercover membership card, dealer network map and service booklet. The service book documents a service history up to 27,887 miles in 1993. Although this is clearly some time ago it only represents a shade over 3,000 miles ago.

With the Mini remaining popular and viable much longer than originally expected, it became necessary to diversify and broaden the range somewhat. The appearance of the Mini Mayfair in 1982 was the opening salvo in a veritable onslaught of niche marketing led variants and specials. The Mayfair made significant strides in moving the Mini upmarket and, perhaps, targeting more mature and sophisticated demographics. As such the Mini Mayfair earned a place as a significant, watershed moment in the Mini’s evolution and becomes increasingly sought after as a result.

This example is clearly no show car but its honesty and originality more than makes up for any cosmetic shortcomings. The big ticks in the pro’s column for this Mini, of course, are its one owner history and its unusually low original mileage which equates to well under 1,000 miles a year on average. Given this Mayfair is an automatic example too, is just the icing on an already enticing and desirable cake.

We estimate this car will reach anywhere between £6,000 - £9,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.