Getting back into the fold for £10k

[SL22]

After having had two classic minis 20 years ago (a standard 1983 city e, 1986 concourse winning modified 1275 sportspack) I’ve a serious hankering for getting one again. It would be a third car that could be garaged. Looking at spending up to £10k max, and really prefer the look of late sportspack coopers.

How have those cars aged? I seem to hear that the later ones rust even more than usual.

One that has jumped out on first inspection is this 1997 Cooper, any thoughts on that one? Seems it was first advertised with the seller last September at £8k, but is now up at £9k!

Then there seems to be lots of options at GC Motors, but they are the other end of the country.

[SL22]

Thanks for the comments. Interested to hear more about the Japanese imports - will they be less desirable in any future resale? The place in Middlesbrough seems to have loads! The other places that seem to crop up in searches are PL Minis, Paul Higgs and Cambridge Mini Works. Not sure if anyone has any personal experience with any of those, though the latter two seem to have very few cars for sale.

[SL22]

A few months on, and...still not got one! After lockdown the ‘good ones’ seemed to be snapped up super quick and/or prices are being increased. Monitoring this particular specialist and pretty much as soon as a car is sited then it is sold (obviously these are the top cars, with prices to match, so a bit above my planned budget).