Lot details
Registration No: HVS 863
Chassis No: M/A2S4/39885
Mot Expiry: None

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 as 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 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. Developing some 34bhp and 44lbft of torque, its 848cc OHV four-cylinder engine reputedly gave the lightweight saloon a top speed of over 71mph. Though, such modest performance was more than compensated for by the model's exceptional handling and roadholding. Launched on August 26th 1959, the Mini has remained close to the nation's heart ever since.

Finished in blue with blue / grey upholstery, this particular example has been off the road for the last eighteen years or so. Dry stored during that time, 'HVS 863' appears to be in basically sound order. Indeed, we are informed that it only failed a recent MOT test due to inadequate brakes and faulty electrics (indicators, wash / wipe etc). An early 'floor starter' car (body number 'BMK 33362'), the accompanying V5C registration document indicates that it has had just three previous keepers since being first registered on September 1st 1960. A seemingly straightforward restoration project, this appealing Mini is offered for sale with various old MOT certificates, the aforementioned recent MOT failure sheet, sundry BP Energol lubrication charts dating back to May 25th 1965 @ 30,435 miles and an Austin Seven Mini handbook.