Wednesday 8th October

Like-new Swiftune Mini Madgwick for sale

Ever wondered what a roadgoing Mini with Swiftune's racing nous might be like? Here's the answer

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Small cars are big business again - or at least bigger business than they have been. Renault is leading the charge, from Dacia Hipster to Turbo 3E and electric Twingo to A290 Rally, but there’s also the ID. Polo GTI coming, the Peugeot 208 GTI, and probably another hot Vauxhall Corsa. 

No discussion about small, fun cars is complete without Mini, and they too have recently demonstrated that it can still make cool Cooper concepts; nothing like the Deus Ex Machina pair will ever be on sale, but it shows a willingness. And maybe they can influence future option packs and special editions; both are undoubtedly interesting in a way that concepts seldom are. 

And no discussion of modern Minis is complete without mention of the original. Even more than 65 years since the first Issigonis car, and more than six decades since the first Cooper S, there’s still plenty to see about the most famous British car in history. In this case, that’s thanks to Swiftune. For almost as long as Minis have existed, Swiftune has been there to make them faster and even more fun; in recent years, they’ve become perhaps best known for their giant-killing Goodwood race cars. But they’ve also been turning their hand to a bit of restomodding…

See this is not just a beautifully restored 1963 Cooper S. It’s called a Madgwick (the first corner on the Goodwood Motor Circuit), Swiftune’s vision of ‘a classic Mk1 high performance Mini for the road.’ So that means all its motorsport expertise put into the hand-built A Series (now 110hp strong), steering (with ‘race proven’ geo), bespoke Koni suspension and competition-spec brakes. Which sounds pretty fabulous, especially in a car that looks as good as an overhauled Cooper S. It’ll take a year to make a Madgwick, and cost anything up to £100,000. 

Or you could buy this one. It’s Swiftune Madgwick number eight and it was finished in 2022, yet it’s covered just 250 miles since then. Effectively brand new then, with more than £75,000 spent on the original build. It’s easy to see how that total racked up, given the apparent quality of the brightwork, paint, upholstery and so on. This is much more than just a raw road racer of a Mini, even if that must be the main appeal. 

Now it’s for sale at £50k, which is certainly a lot for a Mini - though it’s not the most that can be paid. And it’s a darn sight cheaper than having one made from scratch. Plus it’s Swiftune’s 60th anniversary year in 2025; you might say it’s the perfect time to experience the Madgwick magic… 

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See the original advert

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Great colour and a relief to see it on 10” wheels.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

Delightful...but not at that money. But if 75k is money you find down the back of the sofa...yes...in a heartbeat.

[Mammasaid]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

Delightful...but not at that money. But if 75k is money you find down the back of the sofa...yes...in a heartbeat.

It's your lucky day, it's less than 50k, not 75.

[Fetchez la vache]

That looks bloody lovely

[biggbn]

Absolutely stunning

[Inbox]

That is lovely, not sure about the price but a case of find another.

[Lotobear]

I got so far with my 'Swift Evocation' but gave up 85% of the way in at this stage, put the funds to another Elan and never regretted it.

Minis look lovely and have a real nostalgic pull but, honestly, they are so compromised to drive especially in this day and age and I knew I'd be disappointed with the outcome.

[Dr Interceptor]

Even as a standard 1071cc Cooper S, that's worth nearly £50k, so I reckon that's a bit of a bargain.

[Inbox]

Dr Interceptor said:

Even as a standard 1071cc Cooper S, that's worth nearly £50k, so I reckon that's a bit of a bargain.

Nearly £50k you say? Maybe I should do something with the mk2 mini slowly being digested by the rust monster in my garage.

[Watcher of the skies]

According to the write up it started out as an 850, rather than a Cooper. Will this have much bearing on the value?
Looks like a beautiful and thorough job however.

[Dr G]

That's absolutely joyful, and a "lesson" to all the try-too-hard restomod Minis.

[Inbox]

Watcher of the skies said:

According to the write up it started out as an 850, rather than a Cooper. Will this have much bearing on the value?
Looks like a beautiful and thorough job however.

Basically a lovely looking tarted up 850cc mini with a big engine swap, the £50k price tag in my eyes is looking rather optimistic at best.

[nismo48]

Fantastic little thing, and many smiles per mile I reckon..

[bigshineybike]

How? I need to get a pencil and scrap of paper. I just can't see where that money can be spent.

[Muzzer79]

Fantastic

If I had £50k burning a hole, I'd buy it tomorrow

[Lotobear]

Inbox said:

Watcher of the skies said:

According to the write up it started out as an 850, rather than a Cooper. Will this have much bearing on the value?
Looks like a beautiful and thorough job however.

Basically a lovely looking tarted up 850cc mini with a big engine swap, the £50k price tag in my eyes is looking rather optimistic at best.

Agreed, but the Swiftune connection does carry considerable cache.

I've not read the article in full but if it was all done at Nick Swift's workshop (as I understand to be the case) there are folk who would be willing to pay a premium for that. Whilst the engine will doubtless be a different spec, he charges over 20k for a race built A series Mini engine. Think the Alfaholics of the Mini world and you are about there (and look for what they charge for one of their 105 Coupes!!).

[TGCOTF-dewey]

Mammasaid said:

TGCOTF-dewey said:

Delightful...but not at that money. But if 75k is money you find down the back of the sofa...yes...in a heartbeat.

It's your lucky day, it's less than 50k, not 75.

Woohoo...sadly all I found was a pound coin, a few bits of dog hair...but at least I found the TV remote

[RandomCarChat]

Stunning, exactly how I would want my classic Mini.

[CH80]

Super nice, but not £50k super super nice. Can get a proper little cooper s for less than that.

[Demonix]

Stunning little mini, 110bhp and 100 ft/lb for a 700kg car should be quite sprightly on the 0-62. 112mph isn't fast by modern standards but then it's not a modern car. £50k might be a bit of an ask regardless of the Swifttune work though as that sort of money gives buyers a fair amount of choice for a used classic or modern performance car.