The MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD to give it its rather shouty official name was introduced in 2012 as a grand and luxurious flagship model for the brand. 

It had a limited production of 1,000, characterised by top-grade materials and the highest level of workmanship thanks to a collaboration between MINI and another BMW brand, Rolls-Royce. 

The special edition three-door MINI was built under the guidance of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars designer team and was conceived at the Rolls-Royce Design division, to become the flagship of the personalised ‘MINI Yours’ range. 

Only one engine was offered – the Cooper S’s turbo charged 1.6 – while it was also only offered with Diamond Black paint, unique 17-inch alloys and lambswool carpets. The interior was all produced and fitted at Rolls Royce Crewe. It’s a lovely piece of modern luxury motoring.

This one is particularly attractive as it has spent most of its life on the Isle of Man, meaning it has covered just 8,095 miles since new. That’s a tiny mileage, and gives the car real future classic investment potential.

The MINI Cooper INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD was introduced at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show as a limited run of just 1,000 cars worldwide, half of which were supplied to the Chinese market. 

There were 248 made in right-hand-drive, of which 119 were sold in the UK. 

This one was supplied new for £41,005 and was registered in May 2012. It is one of only 23 still taxed and registered on UK roads. 

It is a three-owner car, with eight stamps in the service book and was most recently serviced in January 2022, less than 50 miles ago. 

The MINI is supplied with background information showing it was supplied new with Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Park Distance Control, Automatic air conditioning, onboard computer , a MINI Visual Boost radio and a Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system, all for a cost of £41,005, or 40% more than  standard Cooper S. 

It has a full MOT and the service book is stamped eight times by a main dealer, or once every 1,000 miles. However it will need registering in the UK with DVLA. The reason for not being registered is due to the vendor not wanting to add another owner. The MINI also comes with its original book pack including an owners’ manual and service directory. 

The MINI Cooper INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD looks terrific in its gleaming diamond black paint which usually only adorns a Rolls Royce Phantom, offset by smart 17-inch multi-spoke alloys. It’s a really subtle but also quite upmarket car with only discreet ‘Goodwood’ badges and kick plates giving away its premium aspirations.

It’s finished in a Rolls-Royce colour -Diamond Black Metallic – and as a deepness of shine and paint quality normally reserved for luxury cars.

The car has been fully valeted and prepared for sale, with no notable damage or imperfections. It’s a handsome and very well-presented car. 

Inside the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD is brimming with luxurious features. 

The dashboard, including the surrounds of the central instrument and the air vents, the centre console, carpet surfaces, the Lounge leather seats, roof lining, door, side and body pillar cladding are trimmed in exclusive ‘Cornsilk’ Rolls-Royce Connolly leather, which feels and smells beautiful. The Connolly hide is offset by a Cashmere headlining and sun visors, while the top of the dash and the door tops are trimmed in black nappa leather. 

Yes, this car is very much all about the interior. And it gets even more special when you look at the burr walnut dashboard veneers and piano black details. This is a very special car indeed. Furthermore, it’s in impeccable order, as you’d expect from the mileage. 

Under the bonnet, you’ll find the same 1,598cc power plant as fitted to the standard Cooper S, with forced induction courtesy of a twin scroll turbo. It develops 184bhp, or almost 145bhp per tonne – enough for a thrilling 0-60 sprint of just 6.5 seconds.

The engine is in fine order having been impeccably maintained and it handles beautifully, with wonderfully sharp steering. 

The vendor confirms that the MINI is in 100% running order with no known faults.

This is the ultimate expression of a modern classic MINI with an absolutely incredible level of specification. 

Being the INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD model, it also has masses of future collector appeal thanks to the Rolls-Royce paint and hand-finished, Connolly-trimmed interior. 

It’s really quite a special thing – rare and unusual, and in this case with the added advantage of a minuscule mileage that is bound to give it even greater enthusiast appeal. There isn’t likely to be another. 

You can also see videos of this Mini here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6JgJHAmrXImLuNIpsdb8aw/videos

As well as a review of this special edition: