1989 Rover Mini 30 (30th Anniversary) |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1989 Rover Mini 30 (30th Anniversary)

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Mileage~82,453
TransmissionManual
Engine1.0L
LocationSawbridgeworth

AUCTION CLOSED

1989 Rover Mini 30 (30th Anniversary)

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Photographer and Editor

A hoot to drive, the Mini is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable vehicles of all time.

A genuinely innovative concept when released in 1959, the Mini is recognised as a motoring institution that started the trend for transverse -engined front wheel drive cars. The original design brief was to offer more than a quarter of its packaging to accommodate four adults and their luggage. It evolved into a vehicle that offered driving enjoyment and frugal running costs, straddling the class divide. The Mini continues to be served by an outstanding number of professionals and offers a busy social scene. By the 1980s it was sold with 12-inch wheels, front disc brakes with servo assist, flared wheel arches and a plusher interior, the Mini was entering its final phase and marked the start of limited-run specials. Still retaining the hardy 1-litre carb-fed engine, the Thirty edition was released in the summer of 1989, and limited to just 3,000 cars.

The Mini Thirty is regarded as the best of the Anniversary Special Edition Minis and is distinguished by several distinctive features, including black leather and "Lighting" cloth upholstery, a leather steering wheel, and a "Cherry Red" finish with 1959-1989 decals. It comes to market after ~4.5 years with its previous owner, 2 keys, its handbook, an MOT till May 2025, and invoices totalling ~£2,000.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Danny the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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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

I bought this from a customer who has owned the car since 2020, it has seen a detailed mechanical checkover and was then gently used over the next ~5 years.

Danny deals with well-cared-after cars, focusing on solid and cleanly presented examples. The Mini Thirty is no exception, and its recent maintenance and original presentation were enough for him to handle the car. He will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Danny

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Solid and cleanly presented, it retains much of its Thirty-spec fittings.

Wheels and Tyres

The car is fitted with 12” eight-spoke minilites style alloys. They’re in excellent condition.

Shod with Aplus branded tyres, they date from 2023 and have plenty of life in them.

Bodywork

The exterior presentation is positive, with no significant damage other than a minor dent on the boot lid. The panels have a decent fit; their gaps are consistent. All doors open and close with no issues, although the driver's door struggles to stay open if there is a bit of a breeze.

We spotted an instance of under-paint corrosion emerging on the top of the offside front wing where it meets the A-pillar seam. There are some signs of age on the lowest sections of the front/rear valance and sills, overall the car presents positively. The engine bay, boot floor and wheel wells are solid. The front subframe looks good. The rear subframe and other parts of the floor pan have a sheen of surface rust but seem to be superficial. The area around the front jacking points/front sill shows corrosion but nothing is flagged up as an MOT advisory.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-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

The paint has a decent lustre and the unique Thirty model-only "Cherry Red" finish is consistent. There are a few flat spots in places and the rear nearside wing has surface marks. There are also a few minor scratches elsewhere. There are under-paint reactions noted on the front scuttle panel and passenger door frame. The area around the nearside front side inductor has paint spidering. The car is generally free of roadwear/stone chip marks.

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 high-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 glass is in good shape, although the nearside rear glass panel has notable scuffing. All lights and lenses are positively displayed. The trim appears correct for the model, with the additional fitting of front auxiliary lights. Its chrome is all in good order, with minimal signs of age. The wiper arms are in black which is correct for the Thirty model.

The seals, decals and plastic trim are generally good, with minor wear noted on the front headlamp seals and front emblem. The offside front arch needs an adjustment to the body, the nearside rear arch has a light scratch. The aerial is missing.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The inside has been well-maintained and could be made perfect with just a little effort.

Seats and Carpets

The half leather/cloth seats are in good shape, with minor wear on the driver's side piping, and some marks on the passenger seat fabric. They are the original covers as pictured, and so again wear the limited edition specific year logo to mark 30 years.

The deep red carpets and black mats look smart, all damp-free.

Dashboard

The interior is preserved as original with its correct black dials and seats. The facia displays well, with no splits, just the occasional signs of wear. The switches and dials are in good shape and all reported to work.

The interior trim, door cards and heading are in good condition and the car is fitted with rear belts.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The gear lever is excellent, the leather-rimmed Mini Thirty steering wheel has a few marks and scuffs on the rim. As with the seats, the steering wheel has the logo to celebrate 30 years of Mini in the centre.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The engine pulls sweetly and shows evidence of recent maintenance.

Engine and Gearbox

The famous carb-fed A+ Series 988cc engine starts up with a generous amount of choke and idles smoothly. The dashboard engine warning lights remained off during the cold-start process and the drive. The usual exhaust condensation soon cleared up. It starts up straight away when warm. The engine is cleanly presented, with decent hoses and ancillaries.

The gearbox operates without any problems with crunch-free changes. The clutch is smooth without unusual noises. Take a look at the video to see for yourself.

Suspension and Brakes

As expected from a Mini, the ride is typically firm but free of significant thuds during the test drive.

The car brakes without squeals or grinding, stopping the car in a straight line.

The Drive

Very few cars possess the unique charm of the Mini, and its mechanical positives shine through in this particular example. The engine pulls well, with no splutters or hesitancy after a few minutes of driving, always eager to work through the gears.

No exhaust smoke was noted at any point. Easy to drive but naturally, the car likes to be worked, with steering, brakes and acceleration reminding you of how cars have evolved but it's like revisiting an dear old friend. The handling is predictable and grippy, with no noises heard from the wheels when cornering.

The steering is compliant and tight, with no wobbles or unwanted noises at lower speeds. While typically noisy over 40 mph and hardly the last word in comfort, it is huge fun and Danny has not reported any issues with oil pressure or engine temperature - we left the engine running on tick-over for 20 minutes with no ill-effects

Electrics and Other

Danny told us all the electrics were working, as far as he was aware. The Kenwood CD/FM player and rear side speakers are an aftermarket upgrade but were not tested.

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History and Paperwork

Recommissioned in 2020 after 11-years in storage, with £2,000 worth of invoices and only having travelled around 1,000 miles since.

Registered in August 1989, it appears to have been placed into storage for around 11 years until recommissioned in 2020. Since then around £2,000 has been spent, mostly on sundry and mechanical aspects, including a service carried out around 1,000 miles ago.

More recently in 2022, it was subject to an engine compression test and carburettor clean, new radiator, waterpump and alternator. It has its handbook, two keys and an MOT to May 2025, it comes to market after ~4 and a half years with its previous owner.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, 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 of 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.

This is an auction on behalf of a trade seller and normal auction rules apply, i.e. there is no warranty, no return policy and bids are binding with more info in our terms and conditions.

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 bids, 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
09-05-2024	MOT	82,332
26-04-2023	MOT	82,188
14-01-2022	Waterpump + Radiator
15-11-2021	MOT	81,909
04-11-2020	Service	81,453
13-10-2020	MOT	81,410
01-06-2009	MOT	81,343
16-06-2008	MOT	81,343
16-06-2007	MOT	81,295
16-05-2006	MOT	81,292

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Key Details

ModelMini 30 (30th Anniversary)
Transmission4-Speed Manual
Reg. Date22-08-1989
CC988
Mileage~82,453
HistorySince 2020
ColourCherry Red
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimLeather/Cloth
Chassis #SAXXL2S1N20431495
Engine #99HE200109628
Last Service4-11-2020
MOT08-05-2025
MOT ExemptNo
Road Tax ExemptNo
HPi ClearYes - all clear
Former Keepers8
Tyre BrandAplus
Tyre Age2023
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypeTrade
OwnedPrevious owner ~4.5 years
Key FeatureLimited edition, original specification
Auction ID2590

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All Images

All Videos

Vehicle Location

Sawbridgeworth

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Seller : DannyBe

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3 Comments

DannyBe

Seller

4 days ago

If any serious potential buyer has additional questions and/or concerns after thoroughly reading the description and studying the photographs/videos, I would strongly encourage them to contact Trade Classics to arrange a viewing, so they can see the quality of the vehicle first-hand.

ldsbfd

9 days ago

Hello. This car has been fitted with cover sills, over the original panels. Do you know anything about why they were fitted and when? Thank you.

DannyBe

Seller

ldsbfd

4 days ago

Hi ldsbfd,

Unfortunately I am unsure why or when they were fitted.

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Vehicle Location

Sawbridgeworth

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