・Low mileage Cooper Sport in restored order

・Less than 43,000 miles from new

・Full service history and photographic record of rebuild

・Original bill of sale

On October 4, 2000, one of the most famous chapters of British Motoring History drew to a close. 

On a wet Wednesday in Birmingham, the very last Mini – a Cooper Sport – came off the line at Rover’s Longbridge factory, 41 years and five million cars after the very first Mini rolled out of the factory doors. 

For fans of the iconic model, it was a sad day, though in reality it had been a long time since the Mini was anything but an enthusiasts’ car – something proven by the fact that since 1997, the majority of Minis sold were Cooper ‘Sport Pack’ models, with optional 13-inch wheels, fat arches and leather upholstery. They were wonderfully fun cars, but not cheap and woefully outdated.

Due to the immense popularity of the Sports Pack - an option on 1997-2000 Minis - Rover decided to release a standalone model with most of it fitted as standard. The Cooper Sport was born, and became the flagship of the Mini range. 

To distinguish it from Sport Pack option models, the traditional Old English White roof and bonnet stripes were replaced by Platinum Silver, which is the biggest tell-tale of a genuine 2000 Sport. 

The Cooper Sport was also offered in only four colours – Solar Red, British Racing Green, Tahiti Blue and Anthracite. 

This example is the latter – a grey-black hue that sparkles blue in bright light, and by far the most interesting of the four. It was fully restored in 2016 and has been garaged and used sparingly since. 

W606 VAF was supplied new by Dales Rover of Scorrier, Cornwall – a long-standing Rover/BL franchise that also served as a village garage. It remained in Cornwall for the first 10 years and 32,000 miles of its life. 

Since then, it has had four further owners, all Mini enthusiasts. The current keeper bought it soon after it was restored in 2017 and is selling it due to the arrival of a fourth child. While the Guinness Book of Records currently holds 27 as the highest number of people in a Mini, it’s quite clear that none of them was grappling with an ISOFIX car seat, nor can it be driven legally with the owner’s entire family on board. Reluctantly, then, it has to go…

If you want a classic Mini with a full service history, you won’t find many. But this one has just that, with the service book stamped at 785, 2,838, 4,005, 8,794, 10,171, 13,648, 17,549, 21,156, 24,801, 28,598, 35,711, 36,955, 40,357, 40,852 and 42,306. It has covered less than 1,000 miles since its last service.

It also comes with some other fascinating bits of paperwork including the original bill of sale from May 2000 (the first owner paid £9,495 in cash with no trade in) and lots of bills, receipts and old MOT certificates from its 21-year life. 

The original Mini handbooks and wallet are with it, along with two keys, key and radio codes, some old photos of the car taken in the mid-2000s and a full photographic record of its rebuild. 

Also included with the car are the original spot lamps, mirrors, dash and an original spec grille should the new owner wish to put it back to 100% standard. 

Anthracite is one of Rover Group’s best colours – black in dark light, grey in soft light and a sparkly blue in bright light, it’s a great pearlescent hue that looks terrific against the Mini’s instantly recognisable classic lines. 

This example is lovely. The body repairs carried out five years ago still look amazing, the paint free of any major blemishes and beautifully straight and dent-free. 

A non-standard retro grille and light bar are fitted (easily reversible with the provided parts) along with chrome door mirrors instead of the silver-painted originals (also still in the spares supply).

There’s no corrosion to be seen in any of the usual Mini places such as in the body seams, around the headlamps or on the lower valances, while the underside is equally straight and clean, as backed up by a recent advisory-free MOT test. 

To be picky, there are some very small scuff marks on the 13-inch alloys, but critically the green ‘Mini’ wheel centres – a mark of a genuine Cooper Sport – are unmarked. This is a fabulous little car and a great example of a solid Mini.

As with some of the cosmetic modifications outside, there are some reversible changes inside, with  carbon-fibre dash and aftermarket heater bezels most notable. But again, the owner has kept the originals, which will simply bolt back in. 

Other than a small amount of wear to the top of the dash, the cabin is in good order, with the Ash Grey leather seats and Nickel Silver seat facings both original and in great order. 

The car also has its highly collectable ‘Mini’ branded Clarion radio-cassette – something that many owners threw away early on for a CD upgrade, but which is highly prized by Mini fanatics today. This one also has central locking – a rare Mini option!

With its bus-like steering wheel and cramped, splayed legs driving position the Mini doesn’t sound that appealing… until you drive it. And that’s when it comes into its own. There’s a reason why the diminutive marvel was such a success in racing and rallying and as soon as you get behind the wheel you realise why.

Nothing drives like a Mini, and nothing handles like one either. This one has the MPi version of the venerable A-Series engine, developing 63bhp. That may not sound much, but in a car as small and light as this it’s plenty – it’s an absolute hoot to drive, bouncy ride and all. 

It sounds terrific and is pretty much standard, save for a K&N air filter and sports exhaust. The Engine is clearly in good health and has been well looked after. There are 15 stamps in the service book and the attentions of some well-known Mini specialists behind it.

If the appeal of a Mini needs explaining, then a Mini is not for you. For the rest of us, this is a brilliant Mini and quite a historically important one at that. It’s a great example of the Mini amidst its final glorious fling, with the last year’s worth of production being largely a celebration of the car’s iconography and a demonstration of Mini at its best. 

With all of the typical Mini rust remediated, a full respray and a truly comprehensive history, this is a genuinely collectable example of the model’s grand finale – and a gorgeous and lovable little car.