Mini 850 Deluxe

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When the first Minis went on sale in August 1959, it is fair to say that the public were initially slightly baffled by this tiny little box with its small wheels and funny front-wheel drive.

However, as word gradually spread about its amazing handling prowess and huge fun factor, it quickly became a cult object that came to symbolise the freedom of the Swinging Sixties. One of the most influential car designs of all time, it had a classless appeal that made it welcome everywhere and by 1966 over a million had been sold.

With go-kart handling and excellent brakes, it was a huge success in competition and literally ran rings around far larger and more expensive cars that simply could not keep up with its cheeky pace. It was to remain in production for an astonishing 41 years, still remaining recognizably the same car in 2000 as it had been at launch in 1959.

427 XVE started out in life as a Mini 850 Deluxe in September 1961 but has clearly evolved somewhat since then. It has had five owners to date, the fourth of whom kept it from 1985 to 2018 and rebuilt it over a long period with light competition use in mind. Although there are no bills with the car, it has various obvious modifications including Cooper 10” wheels with front disc brakes and alloy Minifin rear drums, a Cooper-style remote gear linkage, uprated suspension (dry, not hydrolastic) and an early A-Series 1100cc engine with an SU 13/4 carb and performance manifold.

Recently recommissioned following several years in storage, it started promptly and ran well as we moved it around for these photos, flying through its MOT in January with no advisories recorded.