The best of the supercharged Minis, in lovely condition - and with no reserve, too
at the weekend: a 21st-century Mini. In both supercharged and turbocharged forms, they made for fast, characterful, exciting 1.6-litre hot hatches. It’s just that, to be frank, an old one with a sequential and a Hayabusa engine is even more exciting.
But the Mini thing just had to be revisited, especially with a JCW as nice as this one coming under the hammer soon. Nowadays it’s easy not to be too interested in Minis with John Cooper Works badges on them, which is a bit of a shame given the heritage. We know there won’t be another manual one to ensure that it wasn’t just a cosmetic exercise.
Understandably, then, these are the most desirable R53s out there, and are seldom seen as the JCW kit wasn’t a cheap extra when new. In fact, the original owner did a great job of the spec, red working brilliantly with the contrast black accents and 17-inch silver wheels - the body-coloured trim inside really lifts the cabin as well. Leather seats will have cost, too, and the current owner has upgraded the stereo for a Bluetooth/DAB unit.
The very nature of these Minis means they just beg to be driven, yet both keepers of this one have managed to keep themselves to just 62,000 miles in total. There are plenty of services in the history file, plus an MOT until next March with only an advisory for front brake pads. Which could of course be swapped in for something a tad more aggressive than stock to really get the most out of mighty Mini.
There’s that potential, but for those who deem this Mini a bit too nice for a circuit it surely isn’t far from a show car either. The PH listings are nothing if not detailed, so those eager to bid can read about and see blemishes to the wheels, mirror and windscreen. There’s nothing major, put simply; it scrubs up well and could easily look even better still. Or left as is and enjoyed as a rorty and raucous retro hot hatch.
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