Friday 20th April 2012

You Know You Want To: 1959 Austin Mini. Unrestored

How much would you pay for one of the earliest examples of a true motoring icon?

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A ratty original Mini with a liberal bloom of rust, and which has not turned a wheel under its own motive power for more than 25 years probably doesn't sound all that appealing. And a pre-auction estimate of £12K-£15K for it when it goes under the hammer at Bonham's on 30th April even less so.

This is, however, no ordinary Mini. It is, in fact, believed to be the oldest unrestored Mini in existence - the eighth example to come off the line at Longbridge back in May 1959 - and, though production had also started at Cowley when this machine was built, it would still be one of the earliest Minis built. Given that the Mini is rightly considered to be one of the most significant vehicles of the 20th century and must surely be considered an important piece of British industrial history, perhaps such an estimate isn't as wacky as all that.

XLL 27 has done just 30,000 miles in its life, and only one car at the British Motor Heritage Centre in Gaydon - and two in Japan - are known to be older surviving examples.

It's being sold by motoring writer Richard Bremner, who co-owns it as part of a consortium of like-minded car preservation enthusiasts. They bought it a little over a year ago, having seen an article about it on the internet.

"'Who'd be made enough to buy a Mini in that sort of state for £10.5K?' we wondered," Richard tells us. "Turns out it was us." Incredibly, although they saw plenty of pics of the car, the group actually bought it without having seen it in the (somewhat crumbly) metal. Fortunately the car - which arrived in a semi-dismantled state, with engine and gearbox separate from the car, and various bits and bobs in three black sacks - was actually fairly complete, and in surprisingly sound condition, despite appearances.

"As far as we can tell, all the wiring is original, as are all lines and hoses," says Richard. "Despite the surface rust, there's plenty of bits on the body - like the battery housing - which have disintegrated on many original cars, but which survive on this one." Richard says it's actually a lot better built than later Minis - the panel gaps are like you'd expect on a modern Honda - presumably down to the fact that the tooling was new and they were keen to produce the best car they possibly could.

The chaps decided that they felt it was a more interesting as an unrestored car, but the big question is whether the new owner should keep it that way or 'bring it back from the dead'...

Thanks to Classic & Sports Car for the pics

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1959 Austin Mini
Price: £12,000-£15,000 (estimate)
Why you should: It's a piece of automotive history
Why you shouldn't: It's a piece of automotive history ... in pieces

[M666 EVO]

A drop of T Cut will sort that right out...

[Blayney]

So much want.

I drove our mini today. The Twingo felt very numb and very big afterwards.

[ivantate]

Very nice find but what do you do with it after buying it?

Suppose thats what RB and his pals thought too.

[shambolic]

Paper in Scotland had a Cortina today with no miles and still not registered!!! Guy is selling it!

[englisharcher]

My number 2 dream car, I want it.

[Chicane-UK]

Am I the only one who has absolutely zero love for the Mini? I just don't get them at all, despite having a general liking for small / fun cars.

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

[M666 EVO]

Chicane-UK said:

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

Get out.

[Dr G]

Chicane-UK said:

Am I the only one who has absolutely zero love for the Mini?

You and the French.

[sherbert90]

Chicane-UK said:

Am I the only one who has absolutely zero love for the Mini? I just don't get them at all, despite having a general liking for small / fun cars.

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

Possibly.

I love them, purely for the way that they drive like a (marginally) bigger Go-Kart. Massive fun at legal speeds, economical, and replacement parts are very cheap and easy to get hold of. What's not to love?

[vrooom]

I want a other mini, but rust put me off big time after owning 2.

[Gary C]

Chicane-UK said:

Am I the only one who has absolutely zero love for the Mini? I just don't get them at all, despite having a general liking for small / fun cars.

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

When you drive one now they feel taught and pointy, just imagine how that felt in the 50's

Landmark car, you need to judge it on how it changed the car rather than how it compares to todays stuff.

[GarryA]

Transfer the reg and weigh it in.

[uncinquesei]

M666 EVO said:

Chicane-UK said:

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

Get out.

+1

[TheOrangePeril]

uncinquesei said:

M666 EVO said:

Chicane-UK said:

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

Get out.

+1

+2

Fantastic little beaut. Almost the same engine as my A30 too...

[grumpy52]

Oh dear !
many years ago I turned a seven into my first mini-stock racer !
Am I a very bad person ?

[timbo48]

Dr G said "You and the French."

Funny that. I've got a photo somewhere taken in Paris back in the 70s showing at least four of them IIRC....

[extremekiter]

TheOrangePeril said:

uncinquesei said:

M666 EVO said:

Chicane-UK said:

In fact I think I'd almost rather burn £12,000 than spend it on that rusting hulk!

Get out.

+1

+2

Fantastic little beaut. Almost the same engine as my A30 too...

+ 3.

[Fleckers]

that is a lot of money and I guess a few more £££££ will be required to bring it back to life, just hope its done right and not filled with engine, arches, and fat 10 inch wheels

[B'stard Child]

Chicane-UK said:

Am I the only one who has absolutely zero love for the Mini?

Nope - I'll be your friend absolutely detest the bloody things

I used to think older Opels and Vauxhalls rust but minis are in a whole world of their own and the steel is so thin it's hard work welding them up - I've got one in my garage and it's been a two n ights a week project for over a year now and we are just getting close to having a sheel ready for blasting and primer followed by paint

On the plus side pretty much everything is still avaliable and not that expensive.

[shovelheadrob]

I learnt to drive in a mini which was actually registered in 58, it was a pre production car & was great until it went wrong as silly things like the drive shafts were different to the production models, wonder where that one is now. It was back around 1977 that I took my test & even then my mate who owned it knew it was the earliest chassis number known to still exist. Can't remember the reg no unfortunately.