Vehicle Description
With vintage looks and handling, this late-production 1991 Austin
Mini is a great opportunity to own a great example of the car that
started it all. Essentially every front-wheel-drive compact car
that followed duplicated the Mini's groundbreaking design, although
very few, including its modern namesake, have ever managed to
duplicate its combination of endearing personality and go-cart-like
handling.
Mini production continued for decades in England mostly because the
cars were consistently popular. As a result, this unusual light
blue Mini is instantly recognizable anywhere it goes. And while you
may think the current Mini is small, this one is positively tiny,
which is the whole point. Similar to other British makes, Minis can
rust in the most demonic ways possible, but since this one benefits
from decades of development and instant-collectable status, it has
never seen inclement weather and has been touched up as needed. The
doors fit nicely, the hood gaps are tight, and the trunk seals up
nicely, all suggesting a high-quality car that has always been
properly cared for. New rubber seals were used throughout, and the
slender chrome bumpers fore and aft look great, particularly with
the cool protective grilles over the headlights. I think you'll
find that when you see this car in person, you'll have a hard time
resisting it, which is all part of the charm.
Inside, the diminutive external dimensions are stretched to their
limits in every dimension, resulting in a surprisingly comfortable
passenger compartment, particularly for front seat occupants.
Contemporary cloth upholstery forms the foundation of the
utilitarian passenger compartment, but neatly fitted carpets and
matching door panels soften the look and offer reasonable levels of
noise and heat insulation. The steering wheel is, of course, on the
right side thanks to its British origins, and there are big, round
gauges ahead of the driver. And that's one place you'll see updates
that reflect this car's 1990s production: a more modern steering
wheel, standard 1990s Euro-style gauges, and modern switchgear
that's a bit more familiar than the early cars. A 4-speed manual
transmission sticks up directly from the transmission tunnel and
offers decent action and positive gear selection. In back, two
passengers will be perfectly happy for a cross-town jaunt, but if
you're going farther than a few miles, it's best used for storage,
although the trunk itself is surprisingly roomy.
The engine is a gutsy 998 cc inline-4 that runs superbly. The car
has a current MOT in England and it documents the car's mileage as
authentic, and obviously it's been properly serviced. Ever since
their debut, gearheads have been squeezing more performance out of
the diminutive Mini's various engines, because the unique chassis
with its conical rubber springs practically begged for more
horsepower. This one, however, remains quite stock and doesn't
really seem to need more power, because it's just a joy to drive.
It starts easily, idles well, and pulls the little car around with
genuine enthusiasm. The suspension offers a reasonable compromise
between ride and handling, with the conical springs offering a
modest amount of damping, so the shocks themselves don't need to be
too stiff to do a good job. The low center of gravity combined with
having the wheels pushed out to the very corners of the body give
it instantaneous reflexes, a feeling enhanced by the Minilite
wheels and relatively fat 145/70/12 radials. Yes, those are 12-inch
wheels!
Minis are beloved for many reasons, but perhaps most of all for
their combination of utility and performance. Call today!
