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| Lot number | 75 |
|---|---|
| Hammer value | £6,300 |
| Description | Mini RSP |
| Registration | H31 PNT |
| Year | 1990 |
| Colour | Black and White |
| Engine size | 1,275 cc |
| Chassis No. | SAXXNNAMBAD010633 |
| Engine No. | 12A2AF53100603 |
The factory made Mini Cooper RSP was a response from the Rover management to the Cooper kits provided independently by John Cooper to Mini owners.
Produced with the help of Rover Special Projects (RSP) the car was based on a Mini 30, with the 1275cc engine fitted from the MG Metro. It was used as a model to re-introduce the famous Cooper name back into the range and as a consequence is a most important model in Mini history.
The underpinnings used regular Mini components such as the rubber cone ‘springs’ with telescopic dampers but it also had various special extras such as a half-leather interior, glass sunroof and sporty alloy wheels. With some 65bhp on tap and capable of 92mph, the new Cooper certainly lived up to its namesake. It was available in three colour choices, Flame Red, British Racing Green or Black, all with the trademark white roof. Only 1,650 RSP Mini Coopers were made, only 1,050 of which were destined for the UK market.
This particular example was supplied new by Kennings of Shrewsbury in September 1990 and the original sales invoice of £7,411.25 accompanies the car. It has only covered some 14,500 warranted miles, the vendor acquiring it through Brightwells in 2012. He has continued to maintain the car to the high standard to which it had become accustomed, including a recent replacement alternator, new bumpers and a thorough undersealing in August 2014.
Not long after purchase, his local garage fitted a stainless sports exhaust and manifold (the original manifold is retained with the car), the road-legal system sounding suitably rorty. He entered the car in the 2014 Bugatti Owners Club annual picnic Concours d’Elegance, the car being awarded the prestigious Douglas Rushton Salver in the post-1970 class for its presentation and condition.
Always kept garaged, it is in superb condition throughout and is supplied with its original documents and is MOTd until June 2015. Minis such as this are few and far between, let alone in this condition and with such low mileage.
