Lot Ended
Description
One of only 1,000 made for the UK market; full-length electric Webasto
sunroof; tweed and leather interior; Minilite-style alloys; 1275cc
engine; recently restored; super condition; advisory-free MOT; driven 70
miles to the sale
Launched in June
1992, the British Open Classic was a Limited Edition Mini whose standout feature
was a full-length, electrically operated Webasto fabric sunroof which offered an
open air motoring experience without the complexity of a full convertible and
with snug, year-round usability.
Finished in
British Racing Green Metallic, it had gold coachlines, ‘British Open Classic’
decals on the rear wings and boot, chrome bumpers, grille, and door handles,
plus 12” Minilite-style alloy wheels which give it a more planted stance than
the standard 10” wheels.
The upscale interior had
Stone Beige ‘Countryman Tweed’ upholstery with leather inserts and green piping,
and subtle ‘By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen’ labels stitched into the
front seats. It also had a fancy dash with additional white-faced instruments
and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Based on the Mini Mayfair chassis and
mechanicals, the 1,275cc carb-fed A-Series engine produced 50bhp which, allied
to a four-speed gearbox, gave it a top speed of 87mph.
Only 1,000 were made for the UK market, of which only about 130 are
still thought to be currently licensed for road use today.
First registered in September 1992, this particular British Open
Classic comes with no early history but was acquired by our vendor from an
auction in Worcestershire in March 2024. It had clearly been restored to a high
standard not too long before that, with many new components in evidence
virtually everywhere you look, including an uprated aluminium radiator with
Evans waterless coolant.
It isn’t clear when it
was restored, but the MOT history online suggests that it was off the road from
2011 – 2023 so we imagine it would have been towards the end of that time frame.
The mileage on the 2011 MOT is given as 639,188 but this is almost certainly a
mistake as the previous MOTs progress sequentially up to 59,262 miles in 2010.
Restored and back on the road in 2023, it flew
through an MOT in June of that year with no advisories recorded, the mileage at
that point being 14,509 and it has only covered some 675 miles since.
The paintwork wasn’t as good as the rest of the
car when our vendor acquired it, so he had it repainted in the correct BRG and
also fitted new decals and various new trim parts. He also fitted a new master
cylinder and a stainless steel exhaust which gives a nice sporty sound.
Documentation includes most of the original handbooks (bar the service
book), a detailed maintenance book and an original British Open sales
brochure.
Sailing through another MOT in June
this year, again with no advisories, the car was driven some 70 miles to the
sale and we are told that it goes as well as it looks. It has certainly been
starting promptly and running well on site, with that typical ‘eager go-kart’
feel that is the hallmark of all classic Minis and makes them such enormous
fun to drive.
As you
can see in the photos and the video, this rare and recently
rejuvenated Limited Edition Mini looks very smart indeed and will be a fine
way to scoot around over the long hot summer that lies ahead of
us.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970
309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com