Lot 101: Austin Mini Clubman

The Mini Clubman story dates back to 1967, when BMC managing director, Joe Edwards began the task of sorting out BMC, who achieved huge sales but only tiny profits. To help in this task he poached product planner and stylist Roy Haynes, from Ford, who had recently completed his work on the Mk2 Cortina. With Haynes came other Ford stylists such as Harris Mann and Paul Hughes who were part of a new, younger breed of designers and stylists. The Mini Clubman was a case of style over function, for the only benefit of the longer nose was easier engine access, and it was in fact less aerodynamic than the original. Before dismissing the Clubman as an waste of time and talent, we should remember that by 1969 the Mini had been on the market for 10 years, relatively unchanged. In the same period Ford had produced both the Mk1 and Mk2 Cortina's, the Anglia and its replacement the Mk1 Escort. By motor industry standards the Mini was long overdue for replacement or at the very least a facelift. It would, after all, be another 25 years before the car's icon status would become apparent. Offered here is a 1978, 998cc Clubman saloon, which is equipped with the rare automatic transmission. Having been in the hands of just one owner, covering a mere 39,429 miles, in 30 years, the car is offered in very good to excellent condition. In fact, the vendor states that "It drives like a one year old car". Finished in Blaze with black interior, the car is ready to use and is described as being an original, time-warp example.