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BLAST FROM THE PAST
It is also a special anniversary edition
- Jacob Jaffa, Motors Reporter
AN iconic British classic car is up for sale at a bargain price with just 39 miles on the clock.
The "time warp" anniversary edition motor is expected to spark a bidding war at an upcoming auction.
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Built in 1984, the Mini 25 was, as the name would suggest, a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the beloved line of motors.
The original Mini, then known as the Morris Mini-Minor, made its bow way back in 1959 under the umbrella of the British Motor Corporation.
It would go on to become one of the most famous cars in the world and a symbol of 1960s Britain, surviving the collapse of the BMC and its absorption into British Leyland.
Having been produced under a range of marques, including Austin, Innocenti, Leyland and Morris, Mini would eventually become a standalone brand in 1969 and is still one of the nation's most beloved manufacturers today under the ownership of the BMW Group.
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Now, a Mini 25 is set to go under the hammer through Northamptonshire-based auctioneers Humbert & Ellis.
Amazingly, this particular example comes with just 39 miles one the odometer.
The history of the Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper emerged in 1961 as the result of the friendship between the British Motor Corporation's head designer, Sir Alec Issigonis, andJohn Cooper, the head of the Cooper Car Company.
Cooper, who was also a designer ofF1cars, felt that the original Mini, first produced in 1959, had the potential to be tuned up for the world of motorsport.
The car debuted under both the Austin and Morris brands and was a commercial hit, with over 80,000 Mk I versions sold.
The Cooper was considered an icon of '60s Britain, particularly after they were used byMichael Caineand his band of bullion thieves in 1969'sThe Italian Job.
The original was discontinued in 1971 before being revived in 1990 under the ownership of the Rover Group, following the collapse of British Leyland.
Mini was then purchased as a standalone brand by BMW Group in 2000 when Rover was liquidated and continues to produce the Cooper to this day.
The lineage is set to continue on beyond 2030 in the form of an electric supermini bearing the iconic Cooper nameplate.
It was sold at a showroom in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the '80s having driven just six miles.
The remaining 33 covered the journey between the dealership and the current owner's home.
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Since then, it has remained dry-stored at the property for over 40 years.
The little car was kept in a heated garage on a carpeted floor for the decades since it was sold.
A niche within a niche', the iconic British motor 'in danger of becoming extinct' with only a few hundred left
In a gift to classic car fans, the owner has now decided to put it up for sale in pristine condition.
The silver paintwork has been left untouched and comes without a blemish, as does the 998cc engine and flint cloth interior.
Another quirk is that the rear seats come in the form of an upholstered bench rather than individual chairs, while there are no seatbelts in the rear as they were not a legal requirement at the time.
The motor is also exempt from road tax from next April and will not require annual MOTs by virtue of being more than 40 years old.
The listing states: "We are delighted to offer this genuine 39-mile from new 1984 Mini 25.
"And unrepeatable time warp opportunity to purchase a car that has covered less than 1 mile per year of its life."
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It is expected to fetch upwards of £28,000 in Humbert & Ellis' timed auction on April 28.
It comes after Wheeler Dealers host Mike Brewer revealed that he's selling a Ford Transit that he restored for 50 times its original value.
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