Highlights
- Incredibly rare & unique special edition
- Low mileage example
- Drives beautifully and performs without fault
- Just 4 former keepers
- Well cared for over the years
The Appeal
Those familiar with the iconic Mini will already be more than aware of its characterful driving experience, and major impact on front-wheel-drive motoring. Throughout the Mini’s lifetime, a huge range of quirky special editions was made, including 1500 Paul Smith editions, based of course on the styling of the legendary designer.
The Paul Smith edition sports a custom Blue colour, custom badging, custom interior components, desirable factory equipment and much more. With just 300 of the total 1500 units produced for the UK market, these special editions are now incredibly rare, with tidy examples such as this being scarcer still. This particular low mileage example has been rather well preserved over the years, with plenty of maintenance to note.
If you’re looking for a usable classic Mini, that shows off unique styling, and will suit a British classic collection perfectly, this Paul Smith edition is the one for you.
The History and Paperwork
- Just 4 former keepers
- Only 18,739 miles covered
- MOT until May 2023
- Original Rover handbooks
- V5C document present
- Well maintained
Rather remarkably for a vehicle that is now 23 years old, this quirky little Mini has covered just shy of 19 thousand miles, having been enjoyed by just 4 former keepers. Throughout the years, the vehicle has no doubt been well maintained, as noted by a selection of invoices included with the car’s paperwork.
Key invoices to note detail items such as rust repair, a new clutch, new battery, new suspension components, and more. Also included within the vehicle’s paperwork are a couple of previous MOT certificates, the V5C document, and the original Rover handbooks, complete with a stamped service booklet.
The Interior
- Excellent condition
- Black leather interior
- Citrus green details
- Paul Smith instrument gauges
- Paul Smith denim tool bag
Despite Minis not being renowned for boasting a tremendous amount of space for the taller passengers, the interior of this Rover Mini is a rather pleasant and comfortable environment to find yourself in. The car shows off a black leather interior, including black leather seats.
As you would perhaps come to expect with a vehicle of this mileage, both front seats are in superb condition, with possibly only an incredibly minor difference in terms of wear shown on the driver’s seat. The rear seats, on the other hand, have perhaps never even been used throughout the vehicle’s life, and now show a seemingly fault-free finish.
As the vehicle is now 23 years old, there are minor signs of use found with the carpeting, door cards, and an ever so slight mark on the headlining. Should you seek a perfect finish, these would easily benefit from a thorough detail and professional touch-up. Otherwise, all interior items retain their original finish, including the sleek Paul Smith scripted instruments, and the eye-popping Citrus Green glove box.
Inside the boot, you’ll find more Citrus Green, in the form of the boot liner, and fuel tank. It should go without saying that this interior is definitely one of the quirkiest from the special edition Mini line-up, showing off plenty of punchy colour and classy styling.
The Exterior
- Custom Paul Smith Blue paintwork
- Chrome trim pieces and bumpers
- Custom Paul Smith badging
- Charcoal Grey Minilite alloys
- Excellent condition
Not looking to blend in with the crowd, the Paul Smith edition features a custom blue paint colour, which almost takes on tones of purple here and there. It’s certainly a rather unique colour, yet contrasts surprisingly well with the green interior items. The paintwork is in great condition for its age, although is beginning to show signs of bubbling and patina near the front headlights, as well as the usual minor chips and defects near the interior kick plates as pictured.
Those familiar with Minis will likely be well versed with their notorious rust problems, but need not worry as much with this particular car. This example has had repairs to both sills, seat belt anchorage and the rear subframe. To further protect the car from the elements, the underside has been recently waxoyled.
In addition to showing off a custom colour, the Paul Smith edition also features custom badging, such as a Green Great Britain island badge, along with a gold-enamelled bonnet badge, and a rear window sticker. The car also came standard with items like chrome door handles, a chrome grille and bumpers. All chrome looks great for its age but is beginning to show incredibly minor signs of age in areas like the bumper.
This Mini sits on a Charcoal Grey set of Minilite alloys, which further hint at the Mini’s sporty pedigree. All 4 wheels are in great condition, although would benefit from thorough detail and care moving forward. The front wheels wear Nankang tyres with plenty of tread, whilst the rear wheels show off the correct Pirellis specified for the model. Due to the sheer age of the car, the rear tyres do show hairline cracking, but replacements in such a small wheel size are readily available at a reasonable cost.
Despite its few age-related marks, this beautiful Mini still shows off its unique Paul Smith edition styling beautifully. It certainly won’t disappoint as part of a collection and continues to attract the admiration of onlookers on the roads.
The Mechanics
- 1275cc 4-cylinder
- 4-Speed manual gearbox
- Performs brilliantly
- New battery
- New exhaust section
- Fan belt replacement
- ECU immobiliser
- Custom radiator
- New front suspension
- Well maintained
The Mini is widely regarded as one of the most characterful retro cars money can buy, and it's really no surprise why they are so popular amongst motorists and within the world of motorsport. Buyers will be pleased to know that this particular car fires up right away, and drives brilliantly.
The vehicle has been recently serviced, and given a new battery courtesy of the current keeper. As the included paperwork will reflect, the car has also been well maintained over the years, receiving the likes of new suspension components, rust repair, a custom radiator, a new exhaust section, a replacement fan belt and more. Now, the car performs without a single known mechanical or electrical fault and even comes with a long MOT for added peace of mind.
Summary
The Paul Smith Edition Rover Mini is perhaps one of the most well-equipped and unique editions from the line-up, showing off custom styling inside and out.
It is a car that showcases everything we love about the base model Mini, yet adds another layer of collectability and quirkiness. If you’re looking for a beautiful, well-maintained, low-mileage example of a truly rare Mini, this is the one for you.
It is a car that showcases everything we love about the base model Mini, yet adds another layer of collectability and quirkiness. If you’re looking for a beautiful, well-maintained, low-mileage example of a truly rare Mini, this is the one for you.
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