1971 Authi Mini 1000

There is a long and established history of artists using cars as their canvas.

Sonia Delaunay, Frank Stella, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol have all left their mark on automotive metal over the years, and BMW invited the prominent artists of the day to use their models as, er, models, in the 1970s.

Jaime Gili began his work on cars with a Volkswagen Golf, before moving on to a BMW 335i, Porsche 356, a Yaris GR Gazoo and various others.

But he had always wanted to paint a Mini, perhaps because they had so frequently been given bespoke paint jobs for owners such as John Lennon and Peter Sellers during the psychedelic ‘60s.

It took him until 2021 to find a donor car in sufficiently good order for Barcelona restorers AMT to prepare it as a canvas for his artistic vision.

The fully restored car was painted in 2022 at AMT’s workshop in Manresa, Barcelona.

It is, without any shadow of a doubt, the best ‘art car’ we have ever seen.
 

This car is simply stunning to behold from every angle and has clearly been restored - and painted - to a very high standard.

And it’s not just an aesthetic joy from a distance. It gets better when you move closer and can see in forensic detail the quality of the paintwork.

It has a depth of shine and lustre that any prestigious luxury car manufacturer would be proud to emulate.

The bodywork is free of any dinks and dents, and the doors close with a heft and certainty that feels more Teutonic than Iberian.

The painted wheels are seemingly unacquainted with kerbs or other roadside hazards.

The chrome-work is very good everywhere, save for a couple of pitting pimples on the front bumper.

There are a few light scuffs on the paintwork to the right of the boot-lid light.

The lights, lenses and badging are in fine fettle as are all other exterior fixtures and fittings are good.
 

The interior of a 1971 Mini is a simple and spartan place by modern standards, but the condition of this car’s interior is every bit a match for its exterior counterpart in terms of condition, preservation and quality.

The thoroughness of the restoration is evident everywhere you look. Lift up the carpets and mats and you’ll find properly prepped, protected and painted metal.

Talking of mats, the car comes with a bespoke set, mirroring the exterior artwork, made by The Rug Company of London.

The seats and upholstery are undamaged and in good order, as are the door cards.

We found a small hole in the headlining, which is also lightly stained in a couple of places.

There is a patch of loose carpet in the front passenger footwell.

The steering wheel, gear lever, handbrake and other controls are all in very good order and, as far as we’re aware, all switches, dials, knobs, instruments and buttons do what they’re asked to do in a timely and faithful fashion.

The boot is in excellent condition.
 

Underneath its spectacular livery this is a Authi Mini 1000. That means it has a BMC Austin A-series 998 cc petrol engine, front-wheel drive, a manual 4-speed gearbox, and around 40 horses under the bonnet.  

The engine bay looks clean, dry and fresh and everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car also look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and everything seems sound and solid as far as we can tell.

Nothing we’ve seen has given us cause to tut, shake our heads or raise an eyebrow.

The car starts, goes, handles and stops precisely as you would hope and expect.
 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for having been imported.

The history file simply has a copy of The Generalitat de Catalunya V5 equivalent, an inspections and emissions report from July 2022.

The Mini doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

This stunning car is emphatically not the work of a teenage social influencer with a rattle can and a selfie stick.

It is a bona fide work of art by an internationally recognised artist.

It is also a thoroughly restored, mechanically sorted car.

Frankly, we can’t decide whether to just stare at it, hang it on the wall or lick it.

How do you put a value on that?

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.