Registration - HDU 171V

Chassis No. - XL2S1N-645745A

Odometer - 43,418

M.O.T. - July 2024

This smart little red Mini was purchased by the vendor around three years ago as a project car, since when it has been the subject of a great deal of work and a fair bit of investment. A complete new front end has been put in place, along with fresh inner and outer wings, bonnet, flooring, and rear quarter panels and valance. It also now rides on brand new, gloss black alloy wheels wrapped with equally fresh tyres, while the red-piped interior has been treated to a replacement carpet. Apparently, the mechanicals were generally in good order, so only the radiator and starter required replacement. The vendor now grades the very tidy bodywork as ‘excellent’ and the A Series engine, four-speed manual transmission, paintwork and upholstery as ‘good’. The Mini apparently lacks any service history, but does come complete with restoration notes and, if time allows, a new MOT.

With the reverberations of the 1956-1957 Suez Crisis being felt worldwide, Leonard Lord lost little time in commissioning Alec Issigonis to begin work on a radical small car project. Apart from the constraint of using existing BMC mechanical assemblies, and a brief to house four adults plus their luggage within as small a space as possible, the brilliant Issigonis was given carte blanche. His response was the now legendary Mini. Featuring an ingenious transverse-mounted powertrain (with engine sat atop the gearbox), all-round independent 'rubber cone' suspension, front-wheel drive and compact rack and pinion steering, the newcomer was a packaging masterpiece; not to mention one of the most influential automotive designs ever conceived. The MKIII version (1969-1976) brought larger doors, concealed hinges, wind-up windows and a return to the original rubber cone suspension. The standard version of the ensuing MKIV was powered by a 998cc version of the A series engine that boasted an output of 41bhp which, though modest, was sufficient to propel the little car to 60mph in around 19.7 seconds and on to a terminal speed of some 84mph.

In summary:

• Purchased by the vendor as a project car some three years ago
• Recently the subject of a considerable level of restoration
• A smart, affordable entry into classic Mini motoring