The original Mini, or Morris Mini-Minor/Austin Seven as it was named in its first few years of production, was a revolutionary design that greatly influenced the motor industry and left a lasting mark on society, but few would have marked this basic little car out as a future collectors’ item.
Yet here we are, celebrating this icon’s 60th anniversary, and original examples of this humble family car are now highly sought after. Many have been restored so finding one in unmodified condition and with low mileage is nigh on impossible; after all, you didn’t buy a brand-new Mini just to park it in a garage for 50 years, unless you happened to be Mrs B Jones and couldn’t quite get the hang of driving it.
That is exactly what happened to this 1967 MK1 Morris Minor-Mini Super De Luxe. Having been registered and sold as new to Mrs Jones in 1968, it ended up being parked in a garage after she failed to get to her licence, and there it sat for the better part of five decades until the family put it up for auction a few years ago. Whereas restored cars inevitably lose some originality this Mini is so untouched that it still has the manufacturer’s cardboard label affixed to the safety belts and the Old English White paintwork and contrasting Tartan Red interior trim are virtually as bright and unmarked as they were in 1968.
It’s now back on the market, with Essex, UK specialist Woodham Mortimer, registering just 272 miles on its odometer and still looking as if it had just been delivered to its first owner. An opportunity to own such a time warp car, especially one that was once considered a consumable item and treated as such in its heyday, is a truly rare occurrence. It’s currently listed on Woodham Mortimer’s website, price on application, and is offered with its original green registration book, service book and Mrs Jones’ L learner plates.
From revolutionary city car to desirable classic, the humble Mini really has come full circle, the only problem is that it is now afflicted with the same problem facing other low-mileage collectors’ cars—it will most likely never be driven again.
Images courtesy of Woodham Mortimer
