Malaysiaminilover

Tag: oldest

  • Rusty Mini sold at auction for £40,250

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en Deluxe Saloon sold

    The fourth oldest surviving unrestored Mini is sold today at The Royal Airforce Museum in London. The rusty Mini fetches £40,250 which is two times more than expected. Previously, it is expected to fetch £15,000 and many opinions said that it is ridiculous. Now, the sealed price is even preposterous at forty thousand sterling pounds; that is $65,382 USD. The rusty oldest surviving Mini has definitely set a new record for “Most expensive rusty junk Mini ever” and there won’t be the second one.

    According to the news from England, the unrestored Mini was bought by a private buyer from America. There are tons of rusty Minis out there which the condition could have been better than the Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon (XLL 27). But what could possibly make this one so special? It is the story behind the car and the title of the car. Oldest, unrestored, untouched, and 30 thousand miles on the clock meter are what make it one of a kind. XLL 27 is the eighth car of its type to roll off the production line in 1959. Besides, the Mini also considered “Superman” of the 1956 Suez Crisis who has saved many people from the fuel crisis.

    The Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe is in non-running “barn find” condition. It is rusty, the piston probably is jammed, the brake isn’t working, and some of the wires are broken. However, the 30,041 miles on the clock are correct according to Bonhams. Sometimes, if a car is owned by famous people before, the value will boost up too, just like the 1950 Chieftain Silver Streak used by guitarist Richards before.

    On April 30, there are two big things happen in the UK, one being the big football match between Manchester City and Manchester United, another being the fourth oldest Mini was sold in an auction of classic cars at the RAF Museum in Hendon.

    Now the questions that float in our mind is what the new owner going to do with this Mini? Will he continue to keep this car in “barn find” condition or he will restore it to its former glory? Whatever it is, the truth is that XLL 27 fetched £40,250, nearly 100 times of its original price in 1959.

  • Fourth Oldest Surviving Unrestored Mini

    World's oldest surviving unrestored Austin Mini Seven De luxe saloon

    Will you buy a Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon and have it preserved until today if you have £497 in 1959? It is 53 years of preservation! 99.9% of people won’t do that but someone actually did that. Mr David Gallimore bought a 1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon (MK1) in 1986 from a Gladys Hobro of Aldwick, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Gallimore then kept the car in a Chichester barn until recently he is putting the car up for sales. This rusty Austin Mini is covered in dust and chicken feathers and will be auctioned on 30th April at The Royal Airforce Museum in London. It is expected to fetch up to £15,000 which is 30 times more than its original price in 1959.

    Details about the world’s oldest surviving unrestored Mini

    • Car Model: 1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon
    • Chassis Number: AA2S7/108
    • Engine: A Series 848cc
    • Engine Number: 8AUH-908
    • Original registration plate: XLL 27
    • Body Color: Farina Grey. In 1959, exterior colors available for the Mini are Farina Grey, Tartan Red, and Speedwell Blue.
    • Mileage: 30,041 miles on the doesn’t-actually-work clock meter.
    • Features: MK1 grill, Austin badge, opening front door hinged, rear quarter windows, adjustable front passenger seat.
    • Interior: Original with a white color center speedometer.
    • Little History: The rusty car was the eighth Mini to roll off the production line at Longbridge in Birmingham in May 1959, three months before the car was officially launched on 26th August 1959. It is believed to be the eighth brother of the first Mini 621 AOK that badged a Morris.

    World's oldest surviving unrestored Austin Mini Seven De Luxe Saloon

    What is not original?

    From the pictures everything seems to be original including the glass washer bottle and the dynamo (instead of an alternator) that we seldom see on today’s classic Mini. The only big part that has been replaced is the driver’s door. It is in red color that does not match with the farina grey. Inside, the original carpets is not there. Well, carpet may not be able to survive more than 50 years.

    The engine has not been run for many years and it appeared to be original with rust. Sub-frame, steel hydraulic pipes, cable to open the passenger doors, two pieces windows, and many others are still in original condition.

    World's oldest surviving unrestored Austin Mini Seven De luxe saloon
    Interior of the fourth oldest unrestored Mini: Note that the driver’s door is in red.

    What Else?

    There are three Mini were born earlier than the XLL 27 and all of them have been restored over the years. One is 621 AOK that now lives in the British Heritage Motor Centre Meseum in Warwickshire, and the other two are living in private collectors’ house in Japan. In 1999, the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T.

    World's oldest surviving unrestored Austin Mini Seven De luxe saloon
    Images are taken from Car and Classic UK

    Austin Mini XLL 27

    What MalaysiaMiniLover Says?

    It has everything although the mechanism and instruments are simple. The simplest things are often the truest.

    You are buying a hero that save the world from Suez Crisis rather than just buying a small classic car.

    The condition of the car is not roadworthy, but you don’t find one car like this on the road.

    The interior do not carry any modern features such as air conditioning, power windows, or even a car stereo. That’s what we call “Classic”.

    With the budget around £15,000, there are many new cars available in the market such as Toyota Yaris Hybrid and Ford Focus, will you go for these cars rather than the one and only XLL 27? As a Mini lover, we will die for this fourth oldest surviving unrestored Mini.

    After more than half century, the Mini is still one of the most popular and successful British car ever built.

    What will you do if you stand a chance to own this car?

    1. Buy it, let it untouched and continue to keep it in garage.
    2. Buy it, clean it up, and continue to keep it in a better garage for another 50 years.
    3. Buy it and restore it to its former glory.
    4. Buy it, spend thousands of pounds to restore it into a new look to drive up its price.

    More Related Pictures (From eBay)

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon Interior

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon Engine

    1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon Boot