1999 Rover MINI

Even within the limited anniversary edition, this is an exceedingly rare car. A total of 800 were manufactured, with 400 in RHD guise. Of those, only 250 were designated for the UK market. Most of those sold were white, the bulk of the rest were red, and the remaining handful were in this Island Blue – a colour never used before or after on any other Mini (as far as we can ascertain).

The vendor’s son is the current owner. He has owned the car since 2005.

From what we’ve seen and heard, this is a good, honest and completely original example of a very rare car. Mechanically sound and with no obvious major problems, this is a car that would repay a serious restorer who had the aim to own a concours-or-thereabouts example.

Equally, it would give a less ambitious, patient or deep-pocketed owner years of the kind of pure motoring joy for which the Mini is rightly famous.

It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. It has various dinks and dents and nicks and scratches that reflect recent years spent on the streets of Brighton. There, it seems, the locals tend to park using their auditory sense above all others. When they hear the sound of metal gently nudging metal, they know they’re more or less home.

In fact, one reason for the sale is the owner’s weariness at having to deal with the Brighton Parking Technique (BPT) regularly exercised upon his much-loved Mini. The other is that he now runs a craft brewery and has had to admit that a classic Mini is not, perhaps, the ideal vehicle for transporting casks of pale ale.

From a few feet away, this car looks very shiny and has glossy paintwork, shiny chrome, great original alloys and good matching tyres with plenty of tread. The gold and black ‘Mini 40’ bonnet badge and anniversary decals add the finishing touches to a very handsome car.

This is an impression that largely holds up as you move closer, although there are some issues to discuss.

There is a little bubbling under the rear windows and also under the n/s headlight. The o/s ‘A’ panel, n/s sill and boot lid also have some superficial corrosion and, here and there, we’ve noticed localized attempts to repair and respray that would certainly benefit from some professional attention. A small area of corrosion around the windscreen has been repaired and the original windscreen was re-fitted with a new rubber seal.

The front and rear bumpers, front grille and boot lid all display minor signs of the BPT. The front spotlights are new, their predecessors being afflicted by the BPT also.

The original alloys are in good fettle but have the odd nick and mark in a few places.

The inside of the car is an homage to a simpler age. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. This is a car that wants you to drive it, not luxuriate in it.

The overall condition appears to be very good. The seats are dark blue leather with cream piping. They have no rips or tears or other damage, just the creasing and patina you would expect of a 21-year-old car with 66,000 miles on the clock. The springing and foam are supportive and comfortable. The carpets are reasonable, but not immaculate, and the headlining has no saggy bit or tears but could do with a bit of a clean.

The dashboard is fine, as are the centre console, fascia, steering wheel, handbrake and gear lever.

All the interior lights, heating, electrics, controls, instruments, dials and ICE work as intended.

The boot is in fair condition. The spare is the original supplied with the car and comes with a jack and tools. A battery isolator switch has been fitted to prevent the alarm and immobilizer from draining the battery if the car is unused for a couple of weeks.

The Mini is a tough, well-engineered car and we’re assured that this example starts, handles, runs and stops as it should. Despite the paucity of documented history, we’re told that it’s been regularly serviced and maintained over the years.

The engine bay is clean and tidy and everything appears to be present and correct.

The car is fitted with a 'straight through' rear exhaust box. The original rear box and tailpipe are available if required.

The undersides of the car are generally in good condition, although there is some significant corrosion to the inside surface of one wheel arch.

The vendor tells us that the floor under the passenger and drivers feet has been dented by a garage trying to lift the car with the jack in the wrong place, but says the damage is superficial.

This car has covered 66,000 miles, with about 50,000 of that tally attributable to the present owner.

It has a documented service history for the first years of its life. After that, most routine servicing was carried out by the owner and, unfortunately, any bills or receipts for garage work have gone astray with various house moves over the years.

The documented service history is as follows:

* Warners of Tewksbury -1,118 miles service - 9.12.1999

* CD Bramall – 2,950 miles service – 14.9.2000

* CD Bramall – 5,466 miles service – 18.9.2001

* CD Bramall – 7,901 miles service – 3.9.2002

* CD Bramall – 10,633 miles service – 3.9.2003

* CD Bramall – 13,293 miles service – 6.9.2004

In recent years, the car has had a new battery box welded in as part of some repair work to the boot floor and a new skin fitted to the driver’s door. It has also had the front o/s wing replaced following, you guessed it, the BPT.

New sills were fitted to both sides 4 years ago. The water pump and alternator were replaced 3 years ago and the front discs and pads were replaced within the last 18 months.

It comes with all the relevant manuals and handbooks, and even the original commemorative stainless steel case complete with certificates, letter, a model Mini and an old-style log book confirming that this car is No 98.

It also comes with the private plate shown in the photographs. ‘V’ is the correct 1999 letter, ‘40’ is for the special edition, and ‘LJG’ are first owner’s initials. So now you know.

It has an MOT, with no advisories, through to 27.7.21.

The vendor is a self-confessed petrol-head and considers his son’s Mini to be a sound car. He says it is pure fun to drive, being as fast, agile, responsive and grippy as a good Mini should be. He evens admits that, on occasion, he prefers driving it to his own car, an AC Cobra replica which he rebuilt himself. We sincerely hope he never parks his Cobra on the street in Brighton.

This 40th Anniversary Mini is an original, authentic example of a very rare car and should, we think, be of considerable interest to investors, restorers and classic Mini fans alike.

The vendor has the confidence to offer this rarer limited anniversary edition in Island Blue for auction with a realistic estimate of £8,000 - £10,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller in Aylesbury; to arrange an appointment 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’.

As this vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.