1992 Mini Mayfair MOT 3/2020 72K Restored Classic SOLD

A fun, entertaining and well-loved classic Mini with a huge amount of investment and restoration undertaken.

At a glance:
- 1992 Mini in white with dove grey interior
- Originally the 'Mayfair' limited edition, now cosmetically enhanced with retro styling.
- 998cc petrol engine with SU carb and four speed manual gearbox
- Massively fun to drive
- MOT until 6th March 2020 with no advisories
- Lots of restoration work and upgrades.
- HPI Clear

The Model:
The iconic and unique Mini was produced from 1959 until 2000. The original is still considered an icon of 1960s British popular culture. Its space-saving transverse engine front wheel drive layout - allowing 80 percent of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage - influenced a generation of car makers. In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century. This distinctive two-door car was designed for BMC by Sir Alec Issigonis and manufactured at the Longbridge and Cowley plants in England. On its introduction in August 1959 the Mini was marketed under the Austin and Morris names, as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor. The Austin Seven was renamed Austin Mini in January 1962 and Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969. In 1980 it once again became the Austin Mini and in 1988, just "Mini". The Mark IV was introduced in 1976, even though by this stage British Leyland was working on a new small car (the Mini-Metro) which was widely expected to replace the Mini, but it was ultimately never replaced due to its enduring popularity. The Mark IV had a front rubber mounted subframe with single tower bolts and the rear frame had some larger bushings introduced. Twin column stalks for indicators and wipers were introduced, as were larger foot pedals. From 1977 onwards, the rear light clusters included reversing lights. During the early 1980s the Mini received many mechanical upgrades, such as the A-Plus engine, 12-inch wheels with front disc brakes, improved soundproofing and quieter, stronger transmissions. The Mini's 25th anniversary fell in 1984 and British Leyland produced a 'Mini 25' limited model, both to mark the occasion and to publicise the recent upgrades to the model. Basic models such as the City and the City E (using the economy-tuned drivetrain from the Metro HLE) filled in the bottom of the Austin-Rover range and still found buyers who wanted a compact city car that was easy to park and cheap to run. Low purchase and running costs also made the Mini continually popular as a first car for younger drivers, and Austin-Rover introduced a steady stream of limited editions with bright paint colours, body graphics and trim to appeal to this market. The Mini was also becoming prized as a characterful and nostalgic car in its own right, and the 'London Collection' of limited edition models were more upmarket and luxurious and named after affluent or fashionable parts of London. These marketing strategies proved very successful - Mini production actually saw modest increases through the mid-1980s, from 34, 974 in 1985 to 35, 280 in 1985 and 39, 800 in 1986. By 1990, with the reintroduction of the very popular Cooper model, Mini production would pass 40, 000. In 1988 Austin Rover decided to keep the Mini in production for as long as it was viable to do so, eventually a staggering 5. 3 million Minis were produced spanning the 41 years between 1959 and 2000. However, despite this massive production, there are a surprisingly limited number left on the road, and enthusiastic demand has seen prices of the better examples rise dramatically in recent years.

The specification:
This particular 1992 Mini was a London Collection 'Mayfair' limited edition but, as is often the case with classics Minis, it has benefitted from a programme of restoration, improvement and upgrades, resulting in the unique car you see today. Very few Minis are now in the same specification as when they left the factory, having benefitted from the huge trend for readily available and sensibly priced upgrades. As a result, classic Minis are becoming more like snowflakes - no two are the same! This Mini has been stripped and rebuilt, restored and repainted painstakingly over a number of years. There's too much work to list, so best for you to come to view the huge amount of work which has transformed this little Mini into the wonderful car she is today.

Mileage:
This car's odometer is showing 72, 712 miles - which would be an average of roughly 2, 700 miles per year over its 27 year life.

On the Road:
These classic Minis are like nothing else on the road. They have immense charm and character, and a fabulous 'go-kart' feel to their classic, minimal design, both inside and out. I really like the way this Mini drives. It has bags of power (for a Mini) and the suspension is very smooth (for a Mini) and it's really good fun to drive. The Mini starts first turn of the key, with just a hint of choke, the 998cc petrol engine offers a lively responsiveness. It surges eagerly under acceleration, starts, stops and does what it should. This particular Mini drives exceptionally well in comparison to most of this age, no doubt due to the huge investment over the years. The ride quality is 'unique' in any Mini, so expect an entertaining ride and an engaging driving experience without being reliant on modern tech such as power steering, electric windows, cruise control, heated seats or anything else to go wrong. Despite the basic quality of the design, these Minis are an absolute hoot to drive, and although the exterior appears very compact, the innovative designs means drivers of any size will fit. I'm 6'5" and fit comfortably with plenty of head room. It's not like a Jaguar or Mercedes-Benz for refinement, but every journey becomes an entertaining Mini adventure, and they are hugely popular due to their iconic charm.

Engine:
Austin's 4 cylinder inline petrol engine, the A series, is one of the most common in the world. Launched in 1951, production lasted until 2000 in the Mini. It used a cast-iron block and cylinder head, and a steel crankshaft with 3 main bearings. The camshaft ran in the cylinder block, driven by a single-row chain for most applications, and with tappets sliding in the block, accessible through pressed steel side covers for most applications, and with overhead valves operated through rockers. The cylinder head for the overhead-valve version of the A-series engine was designed by Harry Weslake – a cylinder head specialist famed for his involvement in SS (Jaguar) engines and several F1-title winning engines.
British Leyland decided n to update the A-series design in the 1970s, at a cost of £30 million. The result was the 'A-Plus' Series of engines. Available in 998cc and 1275cc, the A-Plus had stronger engine blocks and cranks, lighter pistons and improved piston rings, Spring loaded tensioner units for the timing chain and other detail changes to increase the service interval of the engine. More modern SU carburettors and revised manifold designs allowed improvements in power without any decrease in torque or fuel economy. Many of the improvements learnt from the Cooper-tuned units were also incorporated, with A-Plus engines having a generally higher standard of metallurgy on all units, where previously only the highest-tuned engines were upgraded in this way. This made the A-Plus engines in 1980-1992 Minis generally longer-lived than the standard A series as found in previous versions.

MOT:
Sold with MOT until 6th March 2020 with no advisories.

Condition:
As you can probably see from the pictures, this Mini is very handsome, having undergone significant restoration and mechanical work in the past. It's in very good mechanical and structural condition. The sills, subframe and boot floor are in excellent condition having been recently restored and fully undersealed underneath to provide future protection. There are no advisories for corrosion on the underside, and no signs of significant corrosion on the bodywork either. The bodywork is very good, but the paintwork is not quite factory standard - as I don't think they ever offered a black roof with blue glitter from the factory..! As you can see from the pictures, it's very presentable. It's well sorted mechanically and appears structurally to be in good condition with an excellent interior, so all of the hard work on the infrastructure has been done. It’s always difficult to express in words the condition of any classic Mini, and most people have differing opinions about condition, so the best way to get a true impression will be to view this lovely car in person. I’m confident that anybody with realistic expectations will be delighted to own and enjoy this wonderfully iconic classic car.

Wheels:
At present it is pictured with new JBW 13" wheels with new tyres. Anybody remember the 'Carlos Fandango super-wide wheels' from the Panama Cigars advert? However, it really needs to have hi/ lo suspension added to make these fit properly, as the front wheels rub on the inner front wings. Therefore the car will come fitted with 10' steel wheels in excellent condition, painted dark grey and with new tyres, and these JBW wheels are also included in the price (worth over £400 on their own). It's up to the next owner whether they want to add hi/ lo suspension - it's not expensive (about £60 for a set front and rear on eBay). If you don't want these bigger wheels, I can adjust the price down accordingly.

Conclusion:
A lovely Mini, great fun to drive, structurally excellent and with a long MOT, so ready for Mini adventures!
These classic Minis seem to be increasingly popular and prices are rising as a result, which means they could be a wise investment. This Mini looks like outstanding value, as there could be well over £4, 000 worth of restoration and improvements carried out in recent years, and it would probably cost considerably more to buy a restoration project and do the work yourself. As with all classic Minis, this is a hugely entertaining classic, capable of achieving in excess of 100 smiles per hour!

This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
Please see the list below for similar live adverts.

Similar Adverts

27,000 miles - documented with loads of history. I have two of these, and selling both . It has been well looked after and tastefully restored with 12" reverse rims and a few subtle changes. Paintwork and bodywork in great condition, interior lovely, fun little car that runs perfectly. 4 brand new tyres and a new battery. ...

27,500
30 Jan 2024
Yorkshire
Private

1990 Rover 414 SLI · Sedan · Driven 49,000 kilometres Very Rear And Stunning Example 1990 Rover 414 Sli 1.4 Petrol 16v 49k On The Clock Full Service History Sunroof Cloth Interior Will Come With Original Wheels And Trims Very Rare And Clean Classic Car £2295 Ono Call Me On 07555 971086 Can Deliver<br><br>Full ...

49,000
23 Jan 2024
West Midlands
Private

The 2000 Rover Mini is a unique and valuable car for collectors and enthusiasts of classic British cars. The car is in absolutely new condition, without any remarks or defects. This is a remarkable achievement for a car of this age, which is often prone to rust. However, this Rover Mini is 100% rust-free and has been driven ...

44,950
13 Mar 2024
Belgium

[ENGLISH BELOW] ROVER MINI COOPER 1.3i del 1996 in perfetto stato di funzionamento,appena riverniciata esternamente in modo impeccabile nel suo verde inglese originale. Modello super accessoriato con; cruscotto in radica con strumenti supplementari sfondo bianco. Interni in pelle totale neri con cinture di sicurezza ...

34,650
11 Mar 2024
Italy
Verified Dealer (see stock)

The mini was registered on 5th August 1993 and has 22026 miles on the clock. This is my wife's car and she has been thinking about selling it for a couple of years now. We already have another two vehicles and don't want the expense of all three. The mini failed it's MoT as shown in the attached image of the section ...

22,026
21 Feb 2024
Hertfordshire
Private

This is a truly genuine, honest Rover 75 2.0 V6 Club SE finished in Moonstone Green Metallic with Sandstone upholstery. The vehicle also has what I believe to be an optional electric tilt and slide sunroof. Originally registered to Sunwin Rover on 26/06/2002 and then to Mr Clayton of Bingley 07/10/2002. It was then ...

48,259
10 Mar 2024
Cornwall
Private

We’ve done it…with the addition of this stunning Mini Cooper RSP in British racing green we now have one in every colour in stock here at GC Motors as they were only ever made in red, black and BRG. It has only 5,800 miles on the clock (and for a 31 year old car that’s pretty spectacular when you think that makes ...

5,800
14 Feb 2024
Kent

Price reduced as I need the space. You will not find a better one at this money. Lovely low mileage Rover 45 1.4 iL (ULEZ Compliant!) in outstanding condition. First registered in December 2002 on a 52 plate, so obviously a pre-facelift car and therefore better built than the later cars, This isn't your usual, rotten, ...

58,500
23 Mar 2024
Lancashire
Private

For Sale Due to Elderly owner no longer being able to Drive, exceptionally low mileage, very clean and tidy as photos show, plenty of bills with car Further photos of car and history will be posted end of this week<br><br>Service history is mainly “self” by my father and his mechanic over the last 12 years, book pack ...

44,000
11 Mar 2024
Hertfordshire
Private

Project - Spares or Repairs VERY RARE BLACK Black Cloth Trim Targa Removable Roof Alloy Wheels 44K Miles Good Tyres, Alloys Selling because ULEZ on doorstep and moved onto new ULEZ projects. Starts , Drives , Runs, Will need to recomissioned , MOT expired, so must be trailered Minor marks Clean ...

44,000
20 Feb 2024
Hertfordshire
Private

IMMACULATE Rover 100 Kensington 1120cc, Nightfire Red, 21000 miles from new, manual, 5 speed gearbox, stunning original paint - never damaged - no dents/rust/scratches, always garaged, service history, MOT to November 2024 with no advisories, MOT history. New battery, new exhaust, original sale document, last serviced ...

21,000
13 Feb 2024
Surrey
Private

1993 Rover Mini Cooper 1.3 spi. This was bought by myself as a major restoration project and all works completed by local classic car specialist. Finished in very rare Hawaiian blue with white roof this car is stunning and unique. A list of new parts has been added in one of the pictures as there is too much to list. This ...

88,000
17 Mar 2024
Northamptonshire
Private

Rover 214 SI 5 Door presented in Stunning Red with Grey velour interior This cherished little car was removed from the roads in 2014 due to bereavement and recommissioned for the road in 2020 The car started it's life being registered in Stoke 29/01/1991 with the options of Tinted Glass and an Alarm for the selling ...

33,500
18 Mar 2024
Lancashire