1991 Rover Mini Cooper

“The car has only had one prior owner to me, a family friend, who used it for the first 14 years and covered only 22,000 miles. It was then dry stored for the next 16, until I bought it,” explains the vendor. “It is a standard factory specification car complete with all the handbooks in their wallet, a Rover radio, and jack and wheel brace.”

The vendor says he has given the car a sympathetic recommission/refurbishment to bring it back to superb usable condition. “It’s the very last carburettor model Cooper, which makes it more desirable, and it drives absolutely faultlessly – everything works just as it should.”

That process has involved the car having fresh A-panels and door skins fitted. “Everything has been taken apart. Brakes have been gone through, and rubber components changed. It looks absolutely super. The interior is like new”.

As you would expect of a well cared for, low-mileage and low number of miles classic, that has received a sympathetic refurbishment this two-owner-from-new example of Mini’s famous Cooper now presents in top-notch condition.

The included V5c document confirms its date of first registration as being the 31st of October 1991, as well as it having had two owners. On the MOT front, the Mini Cooper has had a relatively recent test pass (no advisories present), with the certificate running until 02/02/2024.

If you’re looking for a last-of-the-line carburettor Mini Cooper of the old school, then here’s your chance.

Iconic is an overused word, but here it’s perfectly suited to describe the Mini’s compact lines. Compared to many of today’s lardy, overlarge vehicles this is a visual joy.

As mentioned above, the vendor has carried out some cosmetic work (including new A-pillar sections and fresh door skins) to bring the exterior package back up to scratch, and to match the standard of its first-class cabin.

The British Racing Green paint with contrasting with contrasting White Diamond roof, and matching White bonnet stripes, provides striking looks. Paintwork presents in nice, fresh condition with a deep hue and excellent matching where new metal has been added.

Bright work is tarnish-fee, and the alloy Minilite wheels similarly clean. New plastic wheel-arch extensions have been added, and all glass is blemish-free. The tyres have plenty of tread remaining.

It’s very clean and very smart.

The cabin is superlative. Pop the door, and you lower yourself back into the Nineties. Up front, the green dials with their zingy orange needles hint at the zest under the Mini’s bonnet.

The cloth seats remain well bolstered and in tip-top condition with minimal wear. Carpets too remain in excellent health; matching door cards are in the same excellent condition and door jams and sills are clean and tidy. All switchgear functions, as it should, as do the electrics including the Rover Phillips radio. Up top, the headlining is pretty much mark-free.

You will find a spare wheel in the boot and underneath it, clean, corrosion free metal.

It’s a real time warp environment.

We’ve had the Mini Cooper out and about for a blast and confirm that the vendor has done a great job of fettling it. Not only does it look the business, but it delivers out on the open road too.

Brakes haul the car to a stop straight and true; the gearbox shifts with aplomb and the zingy engine pulls strongly. Suspension feels taut and free of issues, so you’re simply able to revel in the car’s sheer chuckability – it’s a cracking wee thing to pilot.

The engine bay presents very well, with clean black plastics and under-bonnet insulation in place. That’s mirrored underneath, with ultra clean sills and well protected metal. The only thing it’s worth noting is a touch of very light surface rust on the underside of the boot floor and battery tray, but this should be very easily tidied up. The new rear sub-frame is in place, and the exhaust system still looks fresh.

It’s definitely ready for action.

As the vendor stated earlier, the Mini Cooper comes with all its handbooks still contained within the original wallet; this includes the Owner’s Handbook, the In-Car Entertainment guide for the Rover Phillips radio, a Security Guide (complete with shifty looking Nineties character on the front!), Dealer Directory and Owner Information & Service Record.

In the latter, you will find the following service stamps:

• 723 miles, (12-12-1991) – Capital Rover, London
• 2499 miles, (18-05-1992) – Capital Rover, London
• 3800 miles, (04-11-1992) – Capital Rover, London
• 5342 miles, (19-05-1993) – The Chequered Flag, London
• 6252 miles, (03-11-1993) – The Chequered Flag, London
• 7642 miles, (23-05-1994) – The Chequered Flag, London
• Mileage not indicated, (20-10-1994) – The Chequered Flag, London

This indicates that early in the car’s life, and before it entered an extended slumber in storage, it received first class maintenance with two services per year.

You will also find all invoices relating to the vendor's recent works to get the Cooper back to full fighting fitness. These include for items such as brake caliper piston kits, brake pads, wheel nuts, engine and sub-frame mountings, various gaiters, a fresh rear sub-frame (£254.88), and door skins (£230.84)… to name just a few.

The car comes with two sets of keys, one of which has a period Rover key ring.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has refurbished to an exacting standard.

The modern BMW Mini has its place, but for us you simply can’t beat the cheeky impudence of the original. As a last-of-the-line hurrah to carburettor-fed examples of the model, this lovely little Cooper will provide an instant portal to Issigonis’ genius for its next owner.

What exactly does that mean? Well, perky, frisky driving dynamics, fiendishly good cabin packaging and those iconic exterior looks. The owner has gone through the little tyke, replacing what was necessary and fine fettling to ensure that it’s absolutely ready for action.

Given that, we think this low mileage example will achieve a price of between £10,000 and £15,000. Even in straightened fiscal times that’s surely not a lot of dosh, for the road-going bosh on offer.

Cracking.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at The Market’s Abingdon HQ; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.