1999 Rover Mini 1.3 MPI Manual - The Ultimate Specification
This is a beautiful Mini, reliable, restored, offering the ultimate specification, combining that raw power to weight ratio with the legendary Monte Carlo rally winning handling.
(a) Reliable
Driving him daily, he hasn’t let us down.
(b) Restored
Being a Mini Specialist, we have fitted all the key new parts, a new braking system and exhaust, new clutch and head-gasket, new air intake and sensors. There are new alloys and tyres, new dashboard and carpets, all new chrome-work to add that classical sparkle. He is one of one (to our knowledge) finished in Duck Egg Blue and accordingly we named him Ducky.
He is sold with 12 months MOT and no advisories, comprehensively serviced with a HPI clear certificate.
(c) The Ultimate Specification
These were the ultimate specification of Mini, the most powerful and reliable, the safest and most adept for modern roads. They cost 63% more to purchase because the specification was so much higher. I have expanded on the specification below.
(d) Behind the Wheel
Combining an extraordinary power to weight ratio (63bhp x 650kg) with the legendary Monte Carlo rally-winning handling, you can’t help but smile and feel terrified.
Accordingly, just a reliable and restored example of the ultimate specification of Mini. The only thing to note is the standard wear to the second gear synchro, otherwise we have done everything necessary.
The Ultimate Specification
The final generation of classic Mini’s had the ultimate specification, that same A Series Cooper engine, the same iconic rally winning handling, but everything else was far advanced. So far advanced that the purchase price rose by 63% to fund the changes (1995 vs 1996).
These models had more power, more reliability, they were much safer and much more luxurious, they were evolved for use on modern roads, no longer were they confined to 1950’s engineering.
(a) Power
The most powerful engine, taken from the high performance Cooper, upgraded with injection systems and modern technology, always in tune, your power optimised.
(b) Reliability
Everyone and their parents, seemingly fondly, remembers breaking down in a Mini, sometimes it was the distributor or the coil, other times the carburettor or the cooling system. All of the above were replaced with modern technology, you no longer had to worry about breaking down, or light drizzle.
(c) Safety
Transcending its spam in a tin-can reputation, Rover proudly declared the classic Mini to now be the safest small car on the road. It now had an air bag, it had side impact safety crash beams, it had SRS and special seatbelts. You and your family could feel safe driving.
(d) Luxury
Inside the materials evolved, you sat on leather, you were faced with Burr-Walnut, everything was higher quality.
But it wasn’t just about power and reliability, safety or luxury, it was about bringing the Mini into the modern age, no longer was the Mini based on 1950’s engineering. The original Mini was not designed for modern roads, busy cities, the M1 hadn't even been built, radical changes were needed to create a daily driver. There's so much more to tell about this model.
