Genuine 1997 Rover Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI 63bhp Finished in Metallic Volcano Orange & White (The Most Sought After Colour Combination) - Owned 12 Years by her Elderly Keeper & 11 Years by her Previous Keeper
 
This is a genuine 1997 (December Registered) Rover Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI 63bhp (the model with the ultimate specification) in one of the rarest and most sought after colour schemes (metallic Volcano Orange) which has been owned by her elderly keeper Geoffrey for 12 years and her previous keeper Steven for 11 years before him. Within the last 12 years Geoffrey has cherished her and MOT’d her every year despite covering just an average of 108 miles per year, primarily visiting the summertime shows. Unfortunately due to illness she now needs a new keeper who like her two keepers before them will keep her for a decade to come. She is factory standard with the exception of new Dunlop D1 alloys (a throw back to the sixties Coopers) and Hi Lo suspension.

1. The Ultimate Factory Specification

Paraphrasing from several official records and well reputed books, the final Mini models (produced between 1997-2000 and commonly known as the “MPI Mini’s” were the ultimate classic Mini’s. These Mini’s were designed by Rover to give more than ever before and designed to solidify the classic Mini’s place as a British icon in order to rocket fuel the sale of the modern Mini which arrived shortly thereafter and was in the design phase.

Why were these the ultimate Mini’s? Well there is broadly six reasons, those reasons are that they are; more powerful, more reliable, better for motorway driving, higher quality, safer and greener. I’ll very briefly expand upon each as this is a question that we are asked a lot:
 
(a) More powerful because they have 20% more horsepower as standard (63bhp) compared to the earlier 1275cc models (50-53hp) and 50% more horse power when compared to the earlier 1000cc (39hp). Such output when combined with their 700kg weight and exceptional renowned rally winning handling provides for terrific and/or terrifying fun;
 
(b) More reliable because the troublesome earlier carburettor, distributor and manual choke are replaced with modern multi-point fuel injection, dual spark technology and an automatic choke. Such modern reliability breeds further reliability still we have found as they are usually more factory original and well built, less modified or messed with;
 
(c) Better for motorway driving, not just because they have more power but they also have more sound deadening, a revised gearbox ratio and a new mechanical layout to reduce driving noise (earlier Mini’s roar on the motorway);
 
(d) Higher quality because the interior evolved, it had a higher quality dash and steering wheel and seats, higher quality gauges etc. New factory options were available such as the Sportspack which widened the stance and arches but ironically lowered the performance due to a reduction in aerodynamics.
 
(e) Safer because they have a drivers airbag, door safety crash bars and inertia seatbelts as well as SRS; and
 
(f) Greener because they had a catalytic converter as standard and have lower revs on the motorway.

So all round, the ultimate Mini specification wise (unless you want to modify and tune your Mini and then you might opt for a Carburettor car as MPI Mini’s have less tuning capability).

2. Her History

Having owned her for 12 years (purchased her in October 2010) her elderly owner Geoffrey has cherished her. Cherishing her, he has maintained and MOT’d her despite covering just an average of 108 miles per year. Those 100 miles were spent visiting shows in the summertime, before he became anxious that such shows busyness might damage her. Her owner was now forced to sell her due to illness.

Before Geoffrey, Steven owned her for 11 years and used her regularly, covering an average of 4300 miles per year. Steven purchased her on the 1st of May 1999, just 18 months from new.

Between Steven and Geoffrey, they have covered just 48,800 miles collectively since 1998. Interestingly, within the 18 months between her manufacture and Steven’s ownership she is reported to have covered a further 80,198 miles. That’s more than three times zipping around the worlds circumference within 18 months. Maybe she set records? Or maybe there was a discrepancy with the clocks or the speedometr had to be changed… we don’t know and we don’t like to speculate without evidence. I’ve driven her for four hours and loved every minute, she drives like a low mileage Mini... but there's a possibility that she did manage three trips around the world in those eighteen months and so we have to sell her as covering 130k miles and have priced her accordingly.

3. Condition

She drives beautifully and everything works. She has just passed a 12 month MOT with no advisories and she is ready to enjoy. Like most Mini’s she has lived a life, there are age related signs, but is generally in fantastic condition and we will show you her in the video below.
 
Want to See More Photographs & a Walkaround Video?
 
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