Description

Model History

In September of 1990, Rover re-introduced the Mini Cooper with their own updates and revisions to the classic British motoring icon. A 1275cc A series engine – which was updated to include fuel injection allowed customers to quickly adapt and live with this car. In addition, bigger wheels, bigger fuel tank and brakes made the Mini more ‘practical’ than its predecessors. Produced until the year 2000, the (Rover) Mini is known as a car that can be easily driven around a city, yet dominate motorsports with the right amount of tuning and driving technique – thanks to its ‘go-kart’ handling and lightweight chassis engineered by Sir Alec Issigonis and John Cooper.

History File

This is a 1992 Rover Mini Cooper Automatic, finished in Black with a Beige with Wood Trim interior. This was originally made for the Japanese market prior to being imported to Hong Kong. Modifications reported by the current keeper include a new coolant system and parts, an aftermarket stereo head unit with Bluetooth connectivity, and a wood trimmed three-spoke steering wheel – they are unsure if the interior was previously refurbished, but state it is in its original Beige and Wood trimmed upholstery. No other major modifications have been done to the exterior or drivetrain.

Routine maintenance under the current keeper has been carried out by a Mini Cooper specialist garage in Yuen Long – consisting of routine oil and fluid changes when needed. Under a previous owner, the automatic transmission was also rebuilt. The current keeper states that this car was previously finished in White and was resprayed into its current Black paint finish in February 2023. In addition, they have applied rust protection for the entire undercarriage. They also remark that they have had the suspension on this Mini Cooper adjusted to a higher ride height than stock out of personal preference, to allow the ride to be more comfortable and manageable on Hong Kong’s roads. While this Mini Cooper is equipped with air-conditioning as standard equipment and blows cold air, the current keeper states they seldom use it due to concerns of the engine overheating.

This car has had three previous owners, has a current mileage of 38,328 km and the current road licence is valid until 22nd August, 2023.

Exterior 

The Black bodywork on this Mini was observed to be in great condition all round – the respray previously done on this car was done to a high quality standard and no signs of overspray were seen. The front and rear bumpers are in great condition with no surface patina or imperfections noted – the same applies for the front grille. All of the chrome exterior trim is in great condition with no missing pieces. Some surface scratches were noted on the glass casing for the passenger side rear tail light, but this does not affect the normal illumination of the light itself – the driver’s side taillight, as well as both front headlights and side markers illuminate normally. Both side doors, the bonnet and rear cargo lid open and close normally – no corrosion was observed on their hinges. Both side door mirrors and door handles are intact. All four Mini Cooper wheels are in great condition with only a subtle amount of surface patina observed on their outlines. All of the Rover and Mini Cooper external badges are present and do not show any severe surface wear.

Interior and Trim

Step inside and the Mini’s compact interior greets you. A few subtle surface tears were observed in the driver’s seat, but some TLC can restore their original appearance – the seat itself, as well as the front and rear passenger seats are in great condition with no major wear observed in their Beige and Plaid upholstery. The 3-Spoke wood trimmed steering wheel is free of any surface wear or scratches. All of the dashboard’s leather and wood trim is in great condition with no surface scratches. The surfaces of the air-conditioning knobs and control panel do display some visible surface wear, but can benefit from refurbishment to restore their original appearance – this physical imperfection does not affect the normal operation of the air conditioning system itself. The rest of the interior switches and buttons operate normally and have no major surface wear. The aftermarket head unit operates as it should with no missing pixels on its LCD display. The wood trimmed automatic gear shifter and casing are in great condition. Both side door panels, as well as the door sills and handles have been well preserved from any hard use or wear. All of the cluster gauges are accurate and operate normally to relay their key information and none of their surfaces or surrounding trim display any damage.

Engine and Running Gear 

The 1275cc fuel injected four-cylinder starts up instantly at the turn of the key. The engine itself is lively and power delivery is smooth and consistent at pickup. The automatic gearbox, thanks to its restoration by a previous owner, engages all of its gears and up/downshifts with no problems at all – as well all three of the individual gears. The steering still feels like how a classic Mini should behave – go-kart like and light to use with plenty of feedback through sharp turns or cornering. The brakes provide plenty of stopping power when used. This is yet another opportunity to own a classic Mini Cooper – exclusively at the Car Farm.

Buyer’s Premium:

5% of Winning Bid

(Minimum – HKD8,000.00)

(Maximum – HKD50,000.00)