Lot 504: 2001 Rover Mini Cooper Sport 500 Saloon

Having devised the iconic original back in the early 1960s, John Cooper sold his own modified Minis under the �Mini Cooper� name from the mid-1980s, before Rover�s acquisition of the rights to the name made it possible to officially re-launch the model in September 1990. The new Mini Cooper was based on the Mini 30, the most luxuriously equipped Limited Edition Mini to date, but fitted with the 1,275cc engine rather than the 30�s 998cc unit. What would turn out to be the final Mini version - the Mark 7 - arrived in 1996. Changes included twin-point fuel injection, higher final drive gearing, driver�s airbag, side impact beams, additional sound insulation, improved front seats, front-mounted radiator and a �Sportpack� option. BMW, Rover�s owners since 1994, wanted an all new Mini to continue the brand into the 21st Century, but in the meantime continued production of the original at Longbridge. On 4th October 2000 the last of the �real� Minis - a limited edition Cooper Sport 500 - was driven off the production line, thus bringing the first chapter of the continuing Mini saga to an end. By the time production ceased, a total of well over 5 million Minis of all types had been produced, making it the best selling British car of all time.
Dating from the final year of the Mini�s production in its original form and one of the final cars made, this Mini Cooper Sport 500 has covered fewer than 25,000 miles from new and been regularly serviced. The vehicle was first registered on 28th March 2001 and purchased by the vendor from a Rover dealership in August of that same year with 200 miles recorded, having had only one previous private owner, a lady. Offered with MoT to November 2008, current road fund licence and Swansea V5 registration document, this low-mileage Mini Cooper represents a rare opportunity to acquire a last-of-the-line example of one of the world�s greatest cars, which can only become increasingly collectible.