One-of-three David Brown Mini eMastered for sale
Want a new electric Mini, but not the new electric Mini? Here's the solution...
An electric Mini of any age makes quite a lot of sense. Even the last generation of Cooper SE delivered a thoroughly modern Mini experience, feeling like an entirely natural extension of the lineup rather than an attention-seeking green machine. It helped that BMW had been working on the idea since the time of the i3, so a battery and motor fitted in without any drama. It was absolutely a Mini, just one that needed plugging in rather than filling up.
Electric suits the Mini experience, complementing the slightly hyper, OTT nature of the drive perfectly. In fact, in 2026 it almost feels like Mini has spent so long making the electric Coopers good that they’ve forgotten to make the petrol cars much fun. Regardless, what do new battery-powered Minis have to do with this original example, you ask? Well, it doesn’t have a combustion engine either, thanks to an electrification restoration from David Brown Automotive. You might remember the name from its DB5 homages and more traditional Mini restomods; in 2023, it branched out into the world of electric power for the latter, creating the eMastered. This is one of them, a right-hand drive car that’s covered just 150 miles since its conversion, and it’s for sale at… well, have a guess first, then carry on.
The eMastered idea was a clever one, because it kept the Mini small and light. While the 640kg claim looked optimistic, it’s clearly going to be a lot less than a tonne. A car that doesn’t weigh much doesn’t need a big battery, and it can obviously go further on it than something heavier. It also doesn’t need a crazy motor to feel sprightly, either. So DBA claimed 110 miles from an 18.8kWh battery (the size of most PHEV units supporting engines), with less than 100hp enough for 8.5 seconds to 62mph and a 92mph top speed. All more than adequate in an original Mini; you’re not going to want to go faster or further, surely.
Add that performance potential to a lavish restoration, complete with new interior, respray and modern tech, and it was easy to see why an eMastered might appeal as an urban runaround cooler than all the rest. But with a price from £125,000 ex works, the DBA Mini could only ever appeal to the ultra-wealthy. This probably explains why this is believed to be one of only three right-hand drive ones made so far.
Certainly a lot of effort has been put into it, given how the MOT wrap sheet once looked as a 1994 car with 90,000 miles (‘Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion’ is a new one for us) and how it presents now. To all intents and purposes, this is a 'new' old Mini, the interior in particular a world away from how it once would have been, with acres of leather throughout. Popping to the shops would never quite be the same again.
Probably, though, the shops visited by a DBA eMastered owner aren’t the usual retailers. This one is for sale at £99,950; tens of thousands less than it would have cost to commission, if still an enormous amount for a humble Mini. But people have most certainly paid more for restorations of classic British icons, and the electrification of old cars doesn’t appear to be a cheap endeavour no matter who is doing it. As the ultimate urban accessory, an electric Mini like this surely takes some beating. Just don’t expect them on every street corner any time soon…
As for the Mini, I saw someone crash one in Glasgow about 30 years ago.. They came into the corner at Milngavie reservoir too fast, lost it and ploughed into a wall. Fortunately the driver was OK, but the front of the car forward of the A-pillar just vanished.
https://www.prestonsdiamonds.co.uk/rolex-certified...
Its almost as if companies make stuff for those who have loads of money ?
This is the kind of thing someone will buy to drive round their estate, its not competing with a Renault 5.
It is a lot of money for a Mini though, my eldest bought a Mini 35 for two grand, hows it going ? Well, he has borrowed my welding gear....
https://www.prestonsdiamonds.co.uk/rolex-certified...
Its almost as if companies make stuff for those who have loads of money ?
This is the kind of thing someone will buy to drive round their estate, its not competing with a Renault 5.
It is a lot of money for a Mini though, my eldest bought a Mini 35 for two grand, hows it going ? Well, he has borrowed my welding gear....
If it was the equivalent of £100 to me I'd buy it. For many buyers it really is the equivalent for them.
https://www.prestonsdiamonds.co.uk/rolex-certified...
Its almost as if companies make stuff for those who have loads of money ?
This is the kind of thing someone will buy to drive round their estate, its not competing with a Renault 5.
It is a lot of money for a Mini though, my eldest bought a Mini 35 for two grand, hows it going ? Well, he has borrowed my welding gear....
Christ, that's vile. But a fool and his money is soon parted.
I understand that there are super rich people out there for whom money is no object but surely even they must baulk at the prospect of spending £125K on something like this.
What a crazy world we live in.
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