Registration - M414 XKU

Chassis No. - SAXXNNAYCBD092175

M.O.T. - August 2021

Odometer - 83,000

‘M414 XKU’ was apparently manufactured for the Japanese market, for which air conditioning was a standard item. The Mini was repatriated from the Far East in 2014 and then refurbished to a high standard, and it certainly looks the part, inside and out. Its white roof and bonnet stripes contrast nicely with the metallic green paintwork, and the pocket rocket rides on dark silver Minilite-style wheels. The hi-spec interior features red and black quilted bucket seats and door cards, polished alloy door fittings and a leather-rimmed steering wheel. The vendor says the Cooper ‘is a nice example of the model and drives as it should’, and informs us that it has just been serviced and treated to some fresh brake fluid. The Mini is now being offered complete with Wipac auxiliary lights, a selection of spares including the original wheels and tyres, and various items of paperwork.

The Mini’s association with the Cooper Car Company of F1 fame was formed in 1961, and for the next 10 years or so all performance versions of the little car bore the Cooper badge. Their place in history was sealed with outright victory in the Monte Carlo rallies of 1964, 1965, 1966 (from which the team was subsequently erroneously disqualified) and 1967. Many other rally and race successes were accrued before the relationship was shelved in the early 1970s. But you can’t keep a good name down, and it reappeared under Rover’s control almost 20 years later. The initial offering was actually a touch slower than the best of the ‘60s cars, but proved sufficiently popular that, from 1992, the Cooper Minis were fitted with a punchier, fuel-injected version of the 1275cc engine more worthy of the badge.

In summary:

• Features a luxury interior including air-conditioning
• Equipped with aftermarket alloy wheels and auxiliary lights
• Comes with a selection of spares and paperwork

Location of Vehicle - Knightley Eaves, Eccleshall