1989 Mini ERA Turbo

The accompanying and highly informative paperwork tells us a very great deal about this remarkable car. This Mini’s production number is R1007 – i.e. number 7 - of around (numbers vary from source to source) a maximum of 436 ERA Turbos built. A letter from ERA to the first owner confirms that “R1007 was one of the first batch of pre-production cars built for use as press / dealer demonstration cars. These cars spent much of their time away from ERA mainly at approved Rover Dealers who would demonstrate the car to prospective customers.”

The ERA Turbo purists will note a few clues to the car’s pre-production status in our photographic package. This is thought to be the last car fitted with the Alpine head unit before a move to a Philips unit was made for full production. Also, no later cars seem to have the ball and socket style catch and associated leather tab on the glovebox lid. To lend some context to this car’s early status, the bright red version exhibited at Gaydon’s British Motor Museum is number 1010 – number 10.

ERA retained 1007 until March 1991 when it was sold to its second registered keeper, a Mr Humphries, for the princely sum of £7,200. It is reported that Humphries bought three ERA’s as he had heard that the company was going into liquidation – this car, number 13 in red and a third. Humphries retained the Mini until 1994 before selling it on to a Mr Rudge. Rudge enjoyed the car for a few more years before a motorcycle accident necessitated him storing the car in 1998. He stored it well, too, having a radiator fitted in his garage especially and covering the car in numerous domestic blankets.

There the Mini remained for the next 22 years before being acquired by current owner Kevin. Kevin was an apprentice at Longbridge at around the time that the handpicked City E shells were making their pilgrimage to Dunstable. As such he had always hankered after an ERA Turbo as the optimum form of the car he spent his youth working with. In 2020 the stars, and Kevin’s finances, finally aligned and he learnt of Mr Rudge’s carefully stored example via a friend. A deal was struck in June 2020 and Kevin was finally the proud owner of a very early, entirely original and very low mileage ERA Mini Turbo. It is now only an empty nest downsizing that is prompting a sale.

On pre-listing the car, the previous owner made contact with some additional information about R1007. It was the only one registered in believed to be 1 of 5 shades of HNA Green and this pre-production batch were thought to be lower riding than the full production cars. Development was clearly still ongoing with number 7 as one side’s wheel arch extensions are riveted on and the other welded. ERA went with welding for the production cars. The previous owner also alludes to a “secret” ERA date stamp in the offside front wheel arch.

Owner Kevin was initially bemused to discover his predecessor’s slightly Heath-Robinson storage methodology, but he couldn’t argue with the results. The ERA Mini Turbo he acquired in 2020 was resplendent in its original British Racing Green livery. And so it remains today thanks to more diligent stewardship, without blankets this time, and very light usage. Kevin’s first MoT in 2020 was performed at 19,970 miles. At our shoot the VDO odometer was reading 21,083 miles, underlining its light use with Kevin.

The standouts on a first viewing are the dramatic Adams body kit with deep chin spoiler, wheel arch extensions of mantlepiece proportions protecting those sublime wheels. The latter are 13-inch, five spoke Trackstar items complete with ERA embossed knave plates with tamper proof locks. It’s a heady mix that takes something universally familiar and transmogrifies into something even better.

Other highlights include the exclusive ERA badging front and rear, the gold Turbo shield on the bonnet which sits ahead of a dominant air gulping bonnet scoop. The front grill is directly lifted from the Innocenti Mini but is augmented with a prominent pair of Hella Comet 500 spot lamps. The condition is hard to fault. There are a few minor stone chips up front and Kevin reports that the offside rear panel was repainted in an earlier ownership due to a scratch.

For owners and previous owners of classic Minis, like your author, the ERA Mini Turbo’s cabin is somewhat of a revelation. It is very much better in every respect than even the best appointed Mayfair or Paul Smith. Those re-engineered Metro Turbo seats are still plenty commodious enough and even more cosseting. The rear bench appears to be a specially commissioned design and is equally impressive. The signature rear side pockets are now nicely built in with hinged lids. Very smart.

The dash is hard to tear your attention away from, however. No inherited, parts bin leftovers for ERA but rather a full set of race car-esque VDO items. The speedometer and tachometer sit in a stitched leather binnacle directly behind the three spoke steering wheel with Turbo decal. A padded leather fascia panel is home to a further six supplemental VDO gauges that includes a turbo boost gauge and enjoys a very pleasing aircraft cockpit aesthetic.

The glass sunroof floods the cabin with light and a bona-fide centre console is formed from a very 1980’s digital clock and some supplemental rocker switches. That pre-production specific, removeable Alpine head unit sits between these and a quartet of push / push cassette holders. The head unit feeds a pair of rear Alpine shelf speakers and a pair of square Radiomobile items in the footwells (an entirely original mismatch).

A surprise awaits in the compact boot. Kevin has had a fitted bag made specifically for the car. The main body of the bag matches the grey interior, and the green piping is an excellent match for the car’s paintwork. The boot itself is well trimmed and an unused spare wheel is housed under the floor.

That turbocharged 1275cc A-series engine was originally rated at 94bhp at 6,100 rpm and 87 lb/ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. The boost pressure of the Garrett T3 turbo was upped to 8psi, and a special air cleaner of ERA’s design and manufacture is fitted. Of course, this extra power is matched with an uprated suspension system honed at Wiltshire’s Castle Coombe circuit and the brakes are courtesy of bigger, vented discs and twin pot callipers. The original publicity material spoke of a 115mph top speed and a 7.8 second 0-60mph time. Interestingly, the accompanying brochure bears a sticker stating that production vehicles had averaged 110mph and that 115mph should be considered as “the absolute maximum possible.”

Given this ERA Mini Turbo’s very sparing use and diligent stewardship it is reported to be in an excellent mechanical position with no known faults or issues. The engine bay is impressively crowded by classic Mini standards. Of course it is pristine, like the rest of the car, and there are some interesting and noteworthy details. The brass coloured ERA data plate is present, and their bespoke air cleaner is also crammed in there. A very useful shaped shield protects the front facing distributor from the weather (a carrier bag and rubber band was de-rigour for us owners of more humble models) complete with an ERA recommendation for Castrol Syntron-X oil (to save you looking – it no longer exists). The underside looks great throughout and has clearly benefitted from all those years cosseted by blankets in a warm garage. Thank you Mr Rudge.

There’s lots of great stuff here and we recommend you pour over it at your leisure. The current V5 is present (interestingly all the ERA Minis are still noted as Mini 1000 City E’s by the DVLA) as is the current MoT. The latter is advisory free and valid until June 2025.

The ERA factory paperwork is very instructive underscoring this car’s very early, pre-production status. There are lots of accompanying invoices, earlier MoTs and the original book pack. Some show awards and cups are present as are the program and other paperwork associated with the car’s invitation to the 2021 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court. The Mini represented 1989 in the parade of British cars gathered together to commemorate the 95 years of the late Queen’s life.

The ERA Mini Turbo was the first car to bear the ERA name for over 35 years and the first “hot” Mini since the demise of the 1275GT nine years earlier. An important car, laying the way for the re-imagined Coopers that were to follow. There surely can’t be a more important or earlier example available today or imminently being number 7 of less than 500 originally produced. It’s condition, back story and paperwork archive will be hard to match in any event making this a very collectable and highly appealing example of the fastest production classic Mini.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £25,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Hollywood, Birmingham. 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.