Fancy a brand-new 31-year-old Mini?

Wednesday, 21 July 2021

Silverstone Auctions is offering a rare 1990 Mini Cooper that only has 63km on the clock.

If you fancy the idea of a virtually brand-new original Mini (not the modern BMW interpretation), then Silverstone Auctions next sale in the UK has literally the perfect car for you.

A big attraction that is small in size is a genuine unregistered 1990 Mini Cooper RSP with just 39 miles (63km) on the clock – officially its delivery miles, despite it actually having four owners.

The 31-year-old Mini has never been registered, yet has had four owners.

Rover built just 1,650 RSP (Rover Special Projects) Mini Coopers in 1990 after it finally acquired the rights to use John Cooper’s name on Minis, making it possible to officially re-launch the Mini Cooper model. As a prelude to series production, Rover’s Special Products division built a limited run of cars that were more luxurious than the production version that followed.

Of the 1,650 RSP Mini Coopers built, 600 were exported while the remaining 1,050 stayed in the UK. The low mileage Mini is number 948 out of the 1,050 that stayed in the UK and is finished in British Racing Green with a white roof.

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Another star of the auction is a low-mileage Ford GT, one of only a handful sold new in the UK.

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The absolute star is a gorgeous rare 911 that is expected to sell for more than $NZ1 million.

According to Silverstone Auctions, it remains on its original tyres and still contains its original fluids. It is estimated to attract between £25,000 and £30,000 (NZ$50,000 and $60,000) at the auction.

The Mini is just one low mileage star of the auction, however, with a surprising number of barely-used classics going under the hammer.

“We are quite spoilt with how many low mileage examples we have going under the hammer in our flagship sale,” said Gary Dunne, sales controller for Silverstone Auctions.

“The 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI 'Tommi Makinen Edition' UK Specification Chassis #001 has just 11,000 miles (17,000km), as does the 2008 Land Rover Defender 90 SVX which has had just one owner from new and the 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT2 RS has covered less than 2,500 miles (4,000km) with its two owners.”

Other low mileage stars include a 2018 Ford GT with just 648 miles (1,043km) on the clock and a 1993 Porsche 911 (964) Turbo S 'Leichtbau' with only 45 miles (72km) from new.

The Ford GT is a left-hand drive, UK-supplied example finished in Ingot Silver with a double alloy stripe and an exposed gloss carbon fibre upgrade. Silverstone Auctions say it is one of very few UK-delivered Ford GTs, and it is estimated at between £540,000 (NZ$1,068,000) and £580,000 (NZ$1,148,000).

The 911 Turbo S is one of just 80 ‘Leichtbau’ (Light Build) editions built, and one of only 11 delivered in the UK. It is finished in Polar Silver with an exclusive Flamenco Red leather interior.

With just 45 miles from new, Silverstone Auctions says the car is accompanied by its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity and is effectively brand new, valuing the remarkable example at between £950,000 (NZ$1,880,000) and £1,100,000 (NZ$2,177,000).

Silverstone Auctions will start the auction weekend off with a motorcycle sale on Friday 31st July followed by an automobilia auction and their classic/competition car auction on both Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August.

If you really fancy a low mileage gem, then you can register to bid online at the Silverstone Auctions website.