10 million Minis made!
A production milestone achieved in a landmark year for Mini - so which one should you buy?
Everybody has a Mini story of some description or another, be that having grown up with one as family transport, a first car as an eager teenager, or an all-consuming restoration project that's just a few more hours from being finished - honest. In the past 60 years it's become an icon of such stature that it's probably transcended the automotive realm to sit alongside the people, buildings and food that have come to define Britain. The country would certainly be quite a lot different without the Mini.
Anyway, a This is Your Life for the Mini this can't be - we'd be here all week. And its reputation doesn't require any further embellishment. Instead the 10 million mark seemed just the right time to celebrate the Mini once more in its 60th year, and see what's on offer in the classifieds for those keen to discover what it's all about. Or, in many cases, rediscover...
Broadly speaking, because the history lesson could take another 60 years, the original Mini was split into seven generations, with body, engine, interior and equipment tweaks along the way. For the full lowdown on Mini history, see this excellent guide - and set aside a lot of time.
But across 41 years and goodness knows how many different versions, a total of 5,387,862 were made. Which means a couple of things: somewhat amazingly, that nearly five million 'new' Minis have been made since 2001 (we'll get to those soon), and that there should still be plenty of classics for sale, even with their propensity to rust.
It should come as no surprise that the days of buying a Mini for three steak bakes and a copy of Razzle (or so the stories seem to go) are long gone. In 2019 you'll need at least £4,500 for one, though it does mean the choice between a fully restored one or this rip-snorting Mayfair, rebuilt with 115hp and a host of modifications.
And this is the joy of classic Minis; whatever the budget, there's a huge wealth of cars available - despite their ostensibly similar billing as derivatives of the Issigonis concept. At £10k you could buy this mint 1998 special edition in Brooklands Green and with a low mileage, or this former race car, unused since a rebuild and ready to hit the track.
Spend a little more and it's possible to pretty much book-end the classic Mini story, with this 1961 Deluxe on offer at £12k (with just three owners from new) and this Last Edition - the names must have run out by then - for sale at £15,495 and on a 51 plate.
Then we're into the sublime, ridiculous and everything else. Ever wanted to recreate the chase scene from The Italian Job? There can't be many who haven't. Now you can, with this trio of liveried, backdated cars on sale at £35k; all are similarly low mileage and even come with imitation gold bullion in the boot. Don't say you're not tempted...
Those with more extravagant tastes might be interested in this £70k Mini, one of the very rare 1,071cc Cooper S models, made only in 1963 and 1964 before the 1,275cc took over. With only 30 miles completed since restoration, it's said to be "as good as a brand new Mini"...
So that's the old car, but what about the new? It does, after all, now represent nearly half of those 10 million cars made in its assortment of bodystyles. Which we'll largely ignore, for the sake of brevity, to focus on those most PH-worthy. For those willing to accept a less than perfect car, a R53 Cooper S can be yours for Shed money. Doubling that budget, meanwhile, gets either a really good supercharged car or an early, turbocharged R56.
At £6,000 the new Mini world is your oyster, the choice there being between Clubman S, cabrio, track car or super low mileage original.
It's pretty easy then to get very, very lost - there are 623 cars listed on PH just under 'Cooper S' alone - so we'll only draw your attention to a few more notable 21st century Minis. This JCW R53 (with 210hp, don't forget), is just £5k, which arguably looks even better value when you consider more than double that is required for a GP that has just 5hp more. A Mini of greater significance, sure, but that is a chunk more cash.
That the GPs of both generations have held their value so well reflects the esteem in which they're held, and it means owners lose precious little when it comes to resale. At least £19,000 is needed for the turbocharged GP2, and anything up to £32,000 currently being asked. They never were cheap, these new Minis...
Speaking of which, what better place to end our 10 million Minis missive than with the most expensive new one to be found? Here goes: for this Cooper S Works loaded to the nines with kit, set aside £39,991... A Mini, even for the biggest budget!
Search for a classic Mini here
BMW make 4 million in less than half that time, many at a premium price.
Fun to tease MG beardies about the numbers of Chinese MGs sold worldwide vs the tweed and tartan ones.
It was quite a disappointment to get the end, be reminded of the modern ones and find that they'd been included in the total.
It was quite a disappointment to get the end, be reminded of the modern ones and find that they'd been included in the total.
I actually preferred the 1000 as the car seemed better suited being on 10" wheels over the 12" that were on the 1275GT.
Great on the twisty lanes with a sense of speed when not actually going that fast at all, just ragging it for all it's worth.
HAPPY DAYS!
Sorry, my early motorist g history was all ‘fast Ford’ and never really wanted one in my callow youth.
Tbh I was disappointed when th thr link to the ‘Italian Job’ remakes, I really expected to see a ‘roll cage’ with a single rear strut and some seats like those in the film. Perhaps I’m expecting too much?
As an aside a friend of mine has the Mini prepped by ST Tuning Zthat featured on the front of an early 70’s edition of ‘Cars and Car Conversions’ and which I believe was used as a recce car for the Monte.
Ok, it’s a ‘Triggers Brush’, having had several period-correct replacement bodies, but he has the original engine, gearbox, drivers seat, steering wheel etc etc. I believe each of the main oily bits has an identifying tag / marking which was applied at the factory
Wonder what that would be worth...?
Sorry, my early motorist g history was all ‘fast Ford’ and never really wanted one in my callow youth.
hmmm mini cooper S or a whale tail cossie
For some reason, fast Fords are not my thing at all. Never really had an experience of them though to be fair.
Thread title is wrong 6 million mini's were made ...... the rest are BMW's
I must have owned, converted, repaired or driven a large % of the real Mini's made, how sad.
First one brothers hand me down, he half rolled it (was hangin upside down by the seat belt!), horizontal cut'n'shut done on the roof before being handed down!
My one "could have died there" moment was in that car.
Second custom 1380cc one a real hoot huge (lol!) 13" minilites, flared arches, bucket seats.......thank Herts insurance for insuring me!
Then finally a late T reg Sportspack demo in Morello Plum and grey leather.......awesome car, pretty much stayed at the same value I original paid, went to my dad for a spell then think it actually went to Japan (via a dealer) in the end.
There was a few years between the 1380 and the sportspack and after driving normal cars in between the throw back even then nearly put me off getting it, it would feel ridiculous getting in one now I think!? Love another go in one but don't think I could bring myself to actually own one again.....
2004 Cooper Convertible
2006 Cooper S Checkmate
2008 Cooper S Convertible
2016 JCW Convertible
1998 Mini Cooper Sport LE
Just picked up a 2004 Cooper S at the weekend too, ultra low mileage at 38k, so one to keep.
As much fun as the Jensens, Stags, Mustangs etc all are, Minis are just epic.
Sorry, my early motorist g history was all ‘fast Ford’ and never really wanted one in my callow youth.
Sorry, my early motorist g history was all ‘fast Ford’ and never really wanted one in my callow youth.
Tbh I was disappointed when th thr link to the ‘Italian Job’ remakes, I really expected to see a ‘roll cage’ with a single rear strut and some seats like those in the film. Perhaps I’m expecting too much?
As an aside a friend of mine has the Mini prepped by ST Tuning Zthat featured on the front of an early 70’s edition of ‘Cars and Car Conversions’ and which I believe was used as a recce car for the Monte.
Ok, it’s a ‘Triggers Brush’, having had several period-correct replacement bodies, but he has the original engine, gearbox, drivers seat, steering wheel etc etc. I believe each of the main oily bits has an identifying tag / marking which was applied at the factory
Wonder what that would be worth...?
I've owned a few...
1964 Mk1 Austin Mini 850
1965 Mk1 Morris Cooper 1275 S
1966 Mk1 Morris Mini Minor 850
1967 Mk1 Austin Mini 850
1968 Mk2 Morris Cooper 1275 S (current)
1969 Mk2 Austin Cooper 998 x2
1970 Mk2 Morris Mini 1000
1972 Mk3 Mini 1000 (joint project with a mate)
1977 Mk4 Mini 1000 (my first car, came with an Innocenti interior)
1979 Mini Clubman 1000
1983 Mini Mayfair 1000
1993 Rover Mini Mayfair Japanese market 1275 automatic
2000 Rover Cooper Sportspack 1275
Plus a few others in between, it's a disease, and I still want another one!
My mother has an R50 Mini and, despite it being a "not a Mini" Mini, it's a bloody hoot to drive. Everything over 35mph seems to feel like a million and it feels like you could take it round any bend at any speed. Seems to be fairly bullet proof too. Only needed a coil pack and a thermostat housing gasket since it was bought.
Sorry, my early motorist g history was all ‘fast Ford’ and never really wanted one in my callow youth.
hmmm mini cooper S or a whale tail cossie
Strange fact #1. One of my now closest friends rocked up one day in a Mini at my parents front door to asks me about owning and tuning rwd Escorts.
Strange fact #2. I did once buy a Russet Brown 1275GT as a cheap and easy to park car in the local city, where I was working. Fitting within an otherwise too small a space, was something they excelled at.
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