Here’s a Simple Checklist to help you when buying a Classic Mini Cooper !

1) Engine

Any oil leaks?
Clean oil?
Clean/New Spark Plugs?
Full Radiator?
Any Rusty water Marks?

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Now we get to the important part. Where to look & what to look out for when buying your Mini. A summary of what to look for during inspection is on the next page.

Where to Look ???

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Right, you’ve settled on a Mini as the car that you want. Where to begin is always the problem. It isn’t a great idea to go straight out there and buy whatever Mini classic car your like. It’s always best to do a bit of research about Mini. That’s what this guide is all about buying your loving Mini!

First Step: Buy an issue of Mini Magazine and Mini World. The two publications dedicated to the Mini. This is a great starting point as reading the articles and looking at the adverts and classifieds will give you a great idea of the values of various Minis and the cost of owning.

There is a huge selection of Minis out there, some needing a lot of work, some needing minor work, and some in good condition. You must first decide if you want to save a bit of money by taking on a car needing work, or pay a bit more to get a nice runner. The major obstacle with owning a Mini is rust. When buying a Mini, finding a car with a sound ’shell should be your first priority. Engines can be sourced & replaced very cheaply. The A-series engine (the one fitted to all Minis) was also fitted to Metro’s, some Maestros & Montegos and other Austin & Morris cars. This means that finding a decent engine to put in your Mini isn’t a problem. We’ll come back to engines and bodywork later.

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Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the British market enjoyed numerous “special editions” of the Mini, which shifted the car from a mass-market item into a fashionable icon. It was this image that perhaps helped the Mini become such an asset for BMW, which later bought the remnants of BMC as the Rover Group. It was even more popular in Japan, where it was seen as a retro-cool icon, and inspired many imitators. The ERA Mini Turbo was particularly popular with Japanese buyers.

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In the 1980s, with the launch of the Metro, the Mini had to fight even harder to keep selling. The answer was to make a number of attractive ’special’ Minis with some very individual styling.

** Mini Sprite (1983) **

This was the first of two models named the Sprite, the second was the replacement name for the Mini City base model in 1992. Available in either Cinnabar Red or Primula Yellow it was distinctive with its thick twin stripe lines, ‘Sprite’ decal and alloy wheels. It also introduced the three-dial binnacle before it was made standard in the Myfair. Read more »