Oldest Unrestored Mini Heading to Auction
Heading to an auction at the Royal Air Force Museum in England on April 30th, 2012 is a very rare 1959 Austin MINI Se7en De Luxe Saloon. What makes this MINI so special is that it’s believed to be the oldest surviving unrestored MINI in the world.
According to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, the 1959 Austin MINI Se7en is the eighth of its type to come off the production line at Longbridge back in May 1959. It is believed that only three MINIs older than this one exists in the world today, with one of them on display at the British Motor Industry Heritage Museum in England, and the remaining two somewhere in Japan.
Bonhams estimates that the MINI will go for $19,000 to $24,000 at the auction. It currently sports the factory Farina Grey paint – at least what’s left of it – with only the driver side door having been replaced over the years. The vehicle will come complete including the famous glass washer bottle that distinguished those very early MINI models.
On the inside, the interior is complete as original minus the carpets. Recorded mileage on the odometer is a mere 30,041 miles and as expected, there’s plenty of corrosion throughout the body. It’s worth mentioning that the engine hasn’t ran for many years.
It’s truly a unique opportunity to own a completely original classic, and we hope whoever buys it chooses not to restore it in any fashion.
GALLERY: 1959 Austin MINI Se7en
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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