1988 Austin Mini 1000 City E |

Sold

1988 Austin Mini 1000 City E

Sold Price

£6,095

Mileage~51,080
TransmissionManual
Engine1.0L
LocationSouthsea

SOLD

1988 Austin Mini 1000 City E

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Professional Consigner

Recognised as one of Britain's most iconic cars ever produced, the Austin Mini is loved by thousands worldwide.

Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis and manufactured by the English-based company British Motor Corporation (BMC). With its space-saving transverse engine and front-wheel drive, the layout allowed 80% of the car’s floor pan to be used for passengers and luggage. 26th August 1959 saw the Mini officially unveiled to the public. Several thousand vehicles had already been produced, with 2000 already sent abroad. They were displayed that very same day in over 100 countries to coincide with the launch.

The Mini has had many editions, collections and marks over it’s 41 years, ranging from the Cooper S, John Player Special, Mayfair and the one we have here today, the Mini City E. Within that production time, whether it was manufactured by BMC, British Leyland, or Rover Group, they have never moved far away from the classic mini shape that we all recognise.

This stunning example comes to market from ~2 year ownership and has been subject to an extensive body restoration in 2018, meaning the British icon will be in fine fettle for many years to come.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Keith the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Having owned many Mini’s through the 60s and 70s - driving a classic Mini again brought back many wonderful memories.

Keith has owned this Mini for ~2 years. Deciding to own a British icon again was an easy decision after a trip down nostalgia lane brought back so many memories. The car was spotted for sale and was an instant hit as all the work had been carried out. A full respray and engine rebuild meant the Mini could be enjoyed straight away, which Keith was looking for.

With a house move on the cards, which may lead to storage issues, Keith has decided to part with the Mini. Please feel free to ask Keith any questions about the car in the comments below.

Keith

Vehicle Owner

Keith saved £1,080* when they
sold their Austin with us.

SELLING MADE EASY

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We'll market it to our 62K buyers & online.
You'll keep your car until it's paid for.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Restored in 2018 with new wings, A panels, sills, bumpers, trims and a fresh coat of paint - the Mini is in superb condition.

Wheels and Tyres

Retaining the original 12” steel wheels with Austin logo hub cap, these are in excellent condition. The tyres are a matching set of Falken Sincera, which have a good amount of tread remaining.
Please see the image gallery to take a closer look at the wheels.

Bodywork

The Mini’s bodywork is in excellent condition. Having had the wings, A panels and sills replaced, everything appears to align as it should, with an equal panel gap. Looking all around the car, we could not spot any dings or dents; it looks remarkably straight.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in "Grey Metallic" with a white roof, the Mini presents superbly. Stone chips are virtually nonexistent, and there are no scratches or dings to point out. There is a tiny blister behind the rear bumper at the bottom of the boot aperture.

As you can see, there is a Union Jack fitted to the roof. This is a decal and could easily be removed if you'd prefer to have a simple white roof.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windows are all in good condition with no apparent scratches to mention. Likewise, the window seals, like the chrome trim, look to be in good condition.

There have been new bumpers, wheel arches, grille and sill trim’s fitted, meaning all the brightwork is in excellent condition with no signs of tarnishing. The lights are also in excellent condition with no splits or cracks. There is a small amount of perishing around the rear clusters, but these seals are readily available parts and easy to replace if desired.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Simple, yet practical - The retrimmed Mini interior is perfectly comfortable for city life.

Seats and Carpets

The Mini has had the interior replaced or retrimmed where necessary. Something of a novelty in Minis of this era, the seats have an adjustable backrest. The material and vinyl are in excellent condition, with just a small wear mark on the base of the driver’s seat. The rear seat does not look to have been used, and the door cards are in good order with no scuffs or damage to point out.

The carpets have been replaced and are in excellent order, with no signs of wear to the heel pads. Looking up, the headling is nice and clean with no sagging. Inside the boot is a newly fitted fuel tank, the spare wheel with a new tyre and the jack and wheel brace.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in good condition and has been finished to match the seats with no splits or cracks. The surrounds which hold the switches are also in good condition with no damage.

Please see the interior gallery for more hi-resolution images.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The three-spoke Astrali steering wheel is in good condition. The gear knob has some signs of use in keeping with the age of the Mini.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

998cc may not be the ultimate in performance - but as an economical city car, it’s perfect!

Engine and Gearbox

The engine in the Mini is said to have been rebuilt. From cold, with a little choke, the 998cc engine fires up as it should, with no untoward noises or smoke. Looking around the engine bay, the engine is well-presented and has no signs of any leaks.

Fitted with a four-speed gearbox, the change is smooth as you would expect, with no noises coming from the transmission whilst out on our road test.

Suspension and Brakes

From all angles, the Mini looks to sit correctly, and there are no knocks or bangs from either corner of the car when out on the road. Keith reports the brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line and with no juddering through the pedal.

The Drive

Out in the Mini is a great experience. The nimble car is fantastic fun to drive, and just like Keith, many of you will have owned a Mini at some point in your lives, and if not, now is the time to enjoy the British icon.

Electrics and Other

Inside, the Mini is minimalistic, which is nice; you can enjoy the car for what it is without being bogged down by modern technology. The switch gear has some slight fading to the buttons in keeping with the age of the vehicle. Being the City E model, a twin instrument binnacle was introduced; this works correctly, and the odometer shows a reading of just 51,080 miles.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed images.

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History and Paperwork

There is a substantial amount of paperwork following the history of the Mini - the most prominent part is the extensive body restoration which lists all the parts fitted.

There is a nice amount of history with the Mini, from the original owner’s handbook to the original service book, which has nine stamps showing. Other paperwork shows parts purchased and work carried out over the years, including the restoration, which comes in at over £10,500 spent over 2017 and 2018.

As you can imagine, with those costs involved, the Mini is quite a special car in stunning condition. Keith has enjoyed the car for two years, using it little and often when the weather permits to keep it in the lovely condition you see here today.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
01.12.2022	MOT	51,044
10.06.2021	MOT	50,737
12.06.2020	Service	50,573
10.06.2020	MOT	50,573
05.06.2019	MOT	50,520
02.07.2018	Service	50,304
06.06.2018	MOT	50,301
31.10.2016	MOT	50,066
23.12.2015	MOT	49,998
29.11.2014	MOT	49,657
27.11.2013	MOT	49,450
24.11.2012	MOT	48,814
19.11.2011	MOT	48,233
23.112010	MOT	46,571
25.11.2009	MOT	44,599
06.11.2008	MOT	37,459
30.11.2007	MOT	37,095
05.12.2006	MOT	35,306
01.08.2006	Service	35,201
12.11.2003	MOT	31,529
27.09.2003	Service	31,152
22.11.2002	MOT	29,102
29.11.2001	MOT	27,224
25.04.2000	MOT/Service	26,038
23.09.1998	MOT	24,120
25.07.1996	Service	18,485
15.02.1995	Service	14,104
03.08.1993	Service	9,933
10.02.1992	Service	6,061
05.04.1989	Service	1,000