Rare Mini Cooper S Radford de Ville for sale
Only £250 cheaper than a Lamborghini Miura when new. Guess how much it is now...
Can you imagine forking out the sort of money you’d spend on a Rolls-Royce Phantom or even a Bentley Flying Spur for a dolled-up supermini? Oh, how people laughed when Aston Martin stapled its grille and lights on the humble Toyota IQ, called it the ‘Cygnet’ to make it sound flashy and then brazenly doubled the price tag. It wasn’t popular, obviously, because underneath the lightly Aston-inspired design was the same running gear as a boggo IQ – apart from a mad, one-off V8-powered prototype.
Okay, I promise that’s the last time I’ll bring up the Cygnet. It’s just that when I see a supermini that’s been given the same treatment as a car of far greater value and (arguably) prestige, my thoughts return to Aston’s bizarre attempt to bring down its fleet emissions. Of course, what you see here couldn’t be further from the aforementioned IQ Vanden Plas. Firstly, because it’s based on the Mini Cooper S 1275 (not a kitchen appliance on wheels) and secondly, it’s been fettled by none other than Henry Radford. Which of course makes it as integral to the swinging sixties as Radio Caroline.
Before Jenson Button and Ant Anstead brought the Radford name back with the stunning Lotus Type 62/2, the firm was a coachbuilder of serious repute. One of the firm’s final creations would be the Mini Cooper S Radford de Ville, which was meant as pocket-sized Rolls-Royce. The original interior was retrimmed in cream Connelly leather with seat piping, while Wilton Carpets – known for its ornate designs – toned things down with all-black flooring. The dash, meanwhile, featured polished wood veneer, housing an array of switches and dials. Electric windows on a Mini would have been unheard of in 1970, as would a heated windscreen.
Even from the outside, the Radford de Ville looks more opulent than the ‘standard’ Mini Cooper S. The front lights were replaced with a dual-stacked pods and a full-length sunroof bathed the cabin in sunshine (and given this was early 1970s London, a fair dose of smog). But nothing says ‘I own property in Belgravia’ quite like a two-tone paint scheme, with this particular car looking utterly splendid in Roman Purple with an Oyster Shell roof. Engine tuning was available, though it’s not clear whether this example received a tune-up. The addition of a second fuel tank, Champion-branded spark plugs and what appears to be a sports exhaust suggest that this is no stock Cooper S.
For the price these Radford de Villes commanded back in the day, you’d expect a comprehensive overhaul throughout. The ad claims that these were the price of a Rolls-Royce Shadow when new and only £250 (about £3,200 in today’s cash) cheaper than a Lamborghini Miura. For a Mini! According to the seller, it’s the second most expensive Radford de Ville ever produced, with the priciest commission going to one of The Monkees.
So if a Rolls-Royce Shadow can be had for around £25k-ish today, guess how much this dolled-up Cooper S will set you back? £30k maybe? Or £50k? Nope, it’s up for £155,000. Now, it’s not the most expensive Mini ever sold – that goes to Paul McCartney’s old Cooper S – but it’s not far off at all. Don’t assume it'll be hanging around the classifieds forever, though. Early Minis are already high in demand, and this one has both prestige and rarity going for it. Makes you wonder what a modern-day Radford Mini would look like. Jenson, Ant; if you’re listening...
I had no idea these existed. It's a bit of a minger to these eyes (especially the headlights), but I think it's a fascinating thing. If you're into old Minis, or love '60s stuff, I can see why it would appeal, even at that price. There are plenty of people out there that could afford it.
Funny that people on here so regularly complain about simple cars being tarted up and sold at huge prices (Twisted Jimny anyone?) - seems it's not such a recent trend after all.
Price is what you pay for something unique and hand crafted 'back in the day'.
It's on my lottery win list.
The original Mini is an iconic car and the level of bespoke build that clearly went into this one makes it a genuine classic. You can add to that the Radford's rarity - how many of us had heard of it before reading this article? They built 30,000 Silver Shadows and many ended up in the hands of Arthur Daley types in the 80s/90s so the modern day price difference is hardly surprising.
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