1997 Rover Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI 63bhp Manual - Finished in Surf Blue x Diamond White (Super Rare) - £12,995

Supplied by All Electric Garages of Halesowen on the 27th of March 1997, this is a beautiful example of a Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI with the wide Sportspack arches, larger thirteen inch Mini Lites and the ultimate final specification.

She’s finished in one of the rarest and most iconic colour combinations of Surf Blue x Diamond White and is in beautiful condition throughout, I feel like one might be hard pressed to find one in as nice condition. If I was being picky I would point out a teeny tiny mark on the boot, a tiny blister on the edge of the rear windscreen and maybe a small paint run or two? One paint run at the top right of the drivers door and one on the top right of the drivers rear quarter, I don't think they would bother you. It’s a beautiful car in really nice condition with just some marks commensurate with age which I have pointed out in the video on our website.

Evidentially she has been loved and cherished, preserved and improved, drawing from her meticulous service history file which includes 15 service stamps (full book plus extra papers), all her MOT’s and thousands if not tens of thousands of pounds in invoices. Such history validates her genuine low mileage, being just 70,000 miles from new. She is supplied with 10 months MOT with no advisories and has had a full engine service (full) and a brake service with recent new pads, discs, springs and cylinders, making her ready to enjoy. She is HPI clear and again, her HPI backs up her mileage. A video of her documents and screenshots of her HPI and MOT are included on the extra photographs link or below (if you are on the link).

Service History & Mileage Records

Flicking through her huge history folder, we can’t include everything, but below is a snapshot of the most important stuff.

1997 (April) - 1000 Miles - Service - Rover
1997 (October) - 6000 Miles - Service - Rover
1997 (December) - 9,169 Miles - Service - Rover
2000 (February) - 33,000 Miles - DVLA Entry
2000 (March) - 33,404 Miles - Service - D.J.Stringfellow
2000 (March) - 33,467 Miles - MOT - Cross Hill Service Station
2001 (May) - 38,295 Miles - MOT - Stores Road Service Station
2001 (September) - 40,000 Miles - DVLA Entry
2001 (September) 40,201 Miles - Service - Maughans
2002 (January) - 40,258 Miles - MOT - Tudor Service Station
2002 (January) - 40,263 Miles - Service - South Lakeland Mini Centre
2002 (November) - 44,018 Miles - Major Engine, Fluids and Brake Service, New Hi-Lo’s -  Croydon Metro Centre
2002 (December) - 45,444 - MOT - Tudor Service Station
2004 (January) - 50,444 Miles - Service (Silver) - Rover
2004 (January) - 50,458 Miles - MOT - Epsom Car Centre
2005 (January) - 53,146 Miles - Service (Silver) - Rover
2005 (January) - 53,146 Miles - MOT - Epsom Car Centre
2006 (January) - 55,358 Miles - New Panels Underneath - Raeburn Auto’s
2006 (January) - 55,358 Miles - MOT - Raeburn Autos
2006 (April) - Not Stated - New Clutch - Epsom Car Centre
2007 (January) - 56,283 Miles - Major Service - Raeburn Autos
2007 (January) - 56,283 Miles - MOT - Raeburn Auto’s
2008 (January) - 57,144 Miles - Major Service - Raeburn Auto’s
2009 (January) - 57,144 Miles - MOT - Raeburn Autos
2009 (January) - 57,927 Miles - Major Service + New Exhaust - Raeburn Auto’s
2010 (January) - 57,927 Miles - Major Service, Brake Service, Full Check - Raeburn Auto’s
2010 (January) - 57,927 Miles - MOT - Raeburn Auto’s
2011 (January) - 59,658 Miles - Major Service, Brake Service, Full Check - Raeburn Auto’s
2011 (January) - 59,658 Miles - MOT - Raeburn Auto’s
2012 (September) - 61,141 Miles - MOT - Oakhill Garage
2012 (September) - 63,304 Miles - MOT - Peter Sylvester
2013 (September) - 64,999 Miles - MOT - Peter Sylvester
2014 (October) - 67,559 Miles - MOT - Drivers Only Motor Company
Off the Road -
2021 (April) - 69,143 Miles - Service, new Throttle Body, Lamba Sensor Coolant Sensor - Thorobred Cars
2021 (April) - 69,158 Miles - MOT - Auto-Test
2021 (August) - 70,081 Miles - MOT - Halls Garage
2021 (September) - 70,254 Miles - New Master Cylinder, Slave Cylinder & Flexi Hose, Fluid + Gaitors - Castrol Service Specialist Automotive Engineers
2021 (September) - 70,289 Miles - New Battery - Castrol Service Specialist Automotive Engineers
2022 (April) - 71,853 Miles - New Throttle Position Sensor - Castrol Service Specialist Automotive Engineers
2023 (February) - 72,700 Miles - MOT - JWJ Car & Commercial
2023 (February) - Not Stated - New Front Brake Callipers, Discs & Pads + Rear Brake Shoes, Cylinders & Springs, New Engine Support Brackets  - Castrol Service Specialist Automotive Engineers - £1566.14.

Plus thousands of pounds of extra receipts.

The Final Evolution of Classic Mini (1996-2000) - The Ultimate Base Specification

Several well reputed authors describe the final Mini model (manufactured between 1996 and 2000) as “The Ultimate Mini”. They were the “Ultimate Mini” because with the 21st century fast approaching and with the modern Mini preparing for launch and these being the final models to leave the production line, Rover embarked upon what they described as “the most radical package of improvements for 36 years [since the Mini’s launch in 1959]”. Those improvements made this final model the most; powerful, reliable, safe, useable and green factory production Mini model ever created. The benefits of this final model are often asked of us and aren’t immediately obvious, so we have done our best to collate various factory records below for you to explain the standard basic factory specification of these final models (on which the Cooper Sportspack expands):

A. The Most Powerful Standard Factory Production Engine

Taking the special earlier “Cooper” 1275cc engine and refining it with improvements including new multi-point injection and dual spark technology, this would be the most powerful and reliable general factory production engine of the Mini Marque. By more powerful we are referring to the fact that she has approximately 64% higher power than the standard 1000cc, 26% more power than the standard 1275cc carburettor engines and 18% more power than the standard 1275cc single point injection engines.

B. The Most Reliable Standard Factory Production Set-Up

Being significantly more reliable for several reasons, this was a Mini that you could rely on. The primary Improvements included:

(a) Upgrading the less reliable old fashioned carburettor, manual choke and distributor sparking system with modern sequential fuel injection, dual spark technology and automatic choke to significantly reduce breakdowns and improve fuel efficiency.

(b) Upgrading the previously underpowered alternator’s (power generator) amps by 44% to 65 Amps, upgrading its ancillary belts and providing an Amp gauge, power generation was increased significantly and the risk of a flat battery reduced.

(c) Upgrading the old fashioned radiator to a new aluminium cooling system and front mounted electronic fan reduced the risk of overheating.

B. The Safest Factory Production Mini

Being the only model to incorporate a drivers airbag, strengthened steering column and safety crash beams within the doors as well as seat-belt pyrotechnic pretensions (pull you back if you crash) and having at this point standardised rear seat belts and a fob operated immobiliser, she is the safest factory production Mini.

C. The Most Usable Factory Production Mini

These Mini’s were designed for everyday modern use, whether it be around the city or on the motorway. To achieve this several upgrades were made:

Having a newly enhanced torque curve which allowed the utilisation of a higher final-drive ratio (2.76:1), she provides much more comfortable fast road and motorway driving;

Upgrading the Torque curve also made it almost possible to reach 90mph in third gear, allowing much easier acceleration;

Upgrading the Mini with a significant amount of new sound deadening (floors, roof, bulkhead, fuel tank etc.) and a revised mechanical layout, cabin noise was significantly reduced for a more comfortable experience on the motorway; and

Most importantly, Rover described the Mini as essentially heading up market, they described the Mini as being gentrified and set upon significantly improving the quality of many of the bolt on parts and the interior (compare these interiors to earlier interiors and the game had changed). The interior was now properly comfortable, made of high quality materials and featured a two speed interior heater, intermittent wipers and the purchase price was adjusted to reflect such.

D. The Most Fuel Efficient & Lowest Emissions

Having improved fuel efficiency arising from the new fuel injection technology and a newly added (early nineties) and then upgraded catalytic converter, modern emissions standards were complied with and emissions were reduced.

Accordingly, these models were significantly more powerful, reliable, safe, useable, fuel efficient and greener than any previous model, despite its classic appearances and feel, the Mini had been reborn within the modern age. These improvements also explain the price difference for these models, whilst they had that same iconic design, exciting feel and rally winning handling, everything else was upgraded.