I spotted it a couple of hundred meters away. Only the roof profile was visible. "English classic", I thought and headed for the car.
What makes a car a classic? Shape? Color? Shape? Brand? The Mini mkVII ticks all these boxes. It has the Mini's original body shape. The details reveal that we are in the late 90s. Widened, painted fender arches, Minilite rims, chrome grill, walnut dashboard, off white leather interior and finished in British Racing Green Metallic.
Rule Britain!
British Leyland kept the Mini in production until 2000. It was originally supposed to be replaced by the Mini Metro . The Metro was launched as – A British car to beat the World , but it never achieved the same status as the model it was supposed to replace. The classic Mini had class , which the charmless Metro certainly did not . The only good thing about the Metro was that Diana Spencer drove one when she dated Prince Charles.
Shell under the hammer
I do not know the history of the car pictured. I noticed a note from the City Environmental Agency in the middle of the driver's side. "Vehicles subject to registration without a legal number plate must not be parked for more than 14 days, cf. Section 17 of the Road Traffic Act." The note is from March 2017 and states that the car was unregistered at the time of the inspection.
It is not known where the car was when it was piled down with bird droppings. Maybe it was in the street where it was found? Perhaps at the municipality's rope-in site? The dents on the bumpers reveal that it has been the victim of reckless hatch parking. The grill is gone, probably torn out by a worn-in hanger. I have no idea why the beautiful Mini ended up on the street. Maybe the clutch was the problem? Maybe it was not EU-approved? Perhaps the owner had bought himself ny Mini? Oslo Municipality will now have covered its expenses. Soon it will end up under the hammer at Økern Bilauksjon in Fornebu.
Updated 09.04.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX. The car is now posted on the website of Økern Bilauksjon. It has been cleaned, all wheel bolts in place and two sets of (new) keys - and it looks like the ignition switch has been changed or something like that. Requires "TLC" to be perfect, as well as a small effort to fix the immobilizer/electronics..
Classic
We may never know the story. Auction companies often receive cars with no history other than the documents that are in the car. When the car is wheeled into the auction room, it will be freshly washed and have a practical condition report on the route. Fully polished and in good working order, a Mini mkVII can go for between NOK 100 and 000. Like other classics, the prices will expect to be on the way up as the model soon turns 150 years old. The MkVII was the last series – the best equipped – the most beautiful, and perhaps the best put together.
In terms of collector value, there is only one classic Mini. the successor, Mini Metro, is long forgotten. New The Mini from BMW is a great car, but it will probably be forgotten in 50 years, too. It will not the beauty of the pictures be!
Facts
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height in cm: 305 / 144 / 134
Wheelbase in cm: 204
Own weight: 696 kg
Motor
1,3i MPI OHV
Displacement: 1275 ccm
Horsepower: 62 HP at 5500 rpm
Performances
Top speed: 148 km/h
0-100: 13 seconds
Tires
Tires: Yokohama A539 summer tires
Size: 175/50R13 72V
About the car
Year model: 1996-2000
Mileage: Unknown
Notice of encroachment given: 12.03.2017.
Towed in from Olav Kyrresgate 8, Oslo.
Available at Økern Bilauksjon, Fornebu.
Check Økern Bilauksjon's websites
PHOTOS
Mini Metro?
Following the classic Mini must be like jumping after Wirkola. The Mini Metro sold well in its home market, but never became as cool as its predecessor – despite heavy marketing. The Metro was produced for a full 18 years. However, the model that the Metro was supposed to replace lived on after the Metro was discontinued.
I mentioned the Metro that Princess Diana owned when she was a nursery nanny and dated Prince Charles. It featured in the first press photos with the shy, beautiful 19-year-old. I think the photos must have been good advertising for the Metro dealers at the time. Today the car is at the Coventry Transport Museum . The car has had three owners after the princess, but has not yet covered more than a modest 48,000 km.
