1993 Rover Mini Rio *Sold £3,500*

Description

• One former registered keeper
• Just 9,491 miles
• Service history and MOTs
• Original condition

Everyone knows what great classic cars Minis make. This Special Edition Rio is unique in several ways. Exceptional ownership, originality and mileage make this a very special edition Mini indeed.

Priced at a large discount to the market, we don’t need to spell out what an opportunity this is.

Background and history

This Mini is all about the one previous registered owner and history. We’ll start there.

Recorded on the original bill of sale from J.C Bates Rover, Brighouse, this Mini was first registered 1 July 1993 to Miss J E Binns. Interestingly, Miss Binns part exchanged her previous 1988 Mini City that had a recorded mileage of only 6,000 miles.

Services (all undertaken by J.C Bates Rover who sold Ms Binns the Mini) are recorded at:

Date                             Mileage

• 05.10.93              182
• 02.02.94              236
• 30.06.84              464
• 22.06.95              809
• 27.06. 96             1139
• 24.06.97              1529
• 16.06.98              1856
• 21.06.99              2372
• 20.06.2000          2930

Anti corrosion services are recorded in the Rover Service Record too.

(Please note. The Rover Service Record can appear confusing. Helpful service technicians have written the next service *due* mileage. Do not mistake the ‘due date’ mileage for the actual mileage.)

MOT tests then pick up the history. They are recorded from 14 June 2005 with 5,363 miles through to 10 September 2014 with 9,432 miles. The current mileage is 9,491.

The story continues. Our vendor started a career in the motor industry as an apprentice technician. He worked on this actual Mini Rio when he was younger and when the owner passed away, he felt it was too good an opportunity to miss.

He now owns his own body-shop but with a number of projects on the go for paying customers, he has reluctantly come to the realisation that someone else needs to cherish this classic Mini.

Outside

• Polynesian Turquoise Metallic
• Original panels
• 12” steel wheels with original trims
• 145/70 tyres
• Chrome bumpers
• Wheel arch extensions
• Rio Badges

No British classic is vaccinated from the great British summertime. This Mini is no exception. There are numerous images in the Gallery, inside and out. The headlamp panels, outer rear panel and sills as you can see will need some attention. How much is up to the lucky new owner. We’d be tempted to preserve the originality of panels, gaps, factory welds and seams.

Inside

Luckily the unique Spira interior has preserved very well. It would be a real pain to find a replica interior trim, let alone another dual tone Spira trim in this condition.

• Rover R-562 radio cassette
• Original three spoke steering wheel
• The headlining is all intact and in good condition
• Black floor coverings in good condition
• Two instrument binnacle

The early Minis were full of idiosyncrasies. We call that ‘character’ today. One of those character traits was the lack of proper sound proofing and noise reduction that is fitted as standard now to modern cars. These later Mk VI Minis, thank goodness, have proper under-felt and sound deadening materials. They retain all the qualities of the 50s and 60s car without the downside.

Mechanicals

There is no getting away from it – whichever version Mini was produced, a Mini is always a Mini. The legend that is the A Series 1275 engine. Lively, four-speed gearbox and of course remarkable go-kart-like handling are all features that abound in this Mini.

Given the history and mileage of Miss Binns’ previous low mileage Mini City that she part-exchanged for the Mini Rio and the condition of this Rio, we doubt this was raced about.

Summary

Under the re-organised Rover Group, the last of the true Minis finally got the attention it deserved. Building only 750 Limited Editions, this Rio was almost a bespoke-type car. Goodness knows how many survive. We’d hazard a guess – very few, if any, in this condition with this mileage and only one registered keeper. This Mini has a Reserve, which in our view is at a discount to the current rising market for late, last of the true Minis.

A remarkable opportunity. A remarkable Mini. Over to you remarkable people.