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Curated Auction

1998 Rover Mini Paul Smith

At a Glance

Restored Example | Rare Model | Gearbox Rebuild

  • Mileage~8,428 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.3L
  • LocationLeamington Spa

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£1,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£1,000

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Video #2

Introduction

Kulraj Salh
COO

Paul Smith added his signature flair to this already iconic British classic, making it a collectable limited-edition Mini.

Over five million Minis were produced between the car's launch in 1959 to 2000, however, standing out from the crowd was never an issue with the choice between so many different models and editions produced across the years.

The Paul Smith limited edition run of ~1,800 examples (with ~300 designated for the home market), was one of the most distinctive limited-edition Minis ever produced. The car shared the basic spec of the revered Mini Cooper, powered by a ~64BHP, 1,275cc fuel-injected engine and included Minilite-type alloys, full leather seats and colour-coded wheel arch extensions finished in a distinctive blue/purple hue chosen by Paul Smith himself.

This example comes to market from ~3.5 year ownership, and has benefitted from a new subframe and repairs to the suspension in its current ownership. The engine bay has had restorative works carried out and most importantly, a full gearbox re-build was finished in Summer 2024. The car remains largely original, a set of chrome wing mirrors replacing the original body coloured ones and aftermarket fog-lights. Those in the market for a car that is famed for providing driving enjoyment or something that is a little more special than most, will do well to take a closer look at this lovely example.

This listing was written from information supplied by Kulraj after meeting Rain 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.

Video #2

Meet the owner

What’s not to love, it’s a British classic and a special edition, it’s quirky even for a Mini!

The current owner, Rain, had always dreamed of owning a classic Mini and bought this car ~3.5 years ago. Minis were a significant part of his family and childhood memories, especially since his brother once owned one. Rain lets us know "I’d promised myself one when I learned to drive, but the opportunity never came. Whilst away on a family holiday, I was looking at online car sales and found this one for sale locally. Being a Paul Smith edition, I decided that this could be the one. I had recently completed a restoration on another car and wanted something that I could just get in and drive from day one".

Rain goes on to say "I was once told that if you parked up a car and didn’t look back at it and smile while walking away from it then you owned the wrong car. I have never not smiled when I’ve looked at this wonderful little car". The Mini comes to market with us after limited recent use, he tells us "I’m fortunate to own a couple of cars which tend to see more use than the Mini and are the ones we take to car shows more often". Rain will be happy to answer any of your questions about the car in the comments below.

Rain
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

The unique Paul Smith blue hue is instantly recognisable, and this car presents in lovely condition.

Wheels and Tyres

The Mini is fitted with a set of Charcoal minilite 12” alloy wheels as standard for this limited edition. These are in decent condition overall but show a few marks and curb rash. The centre sections showed a few areas where the paint had started to fade.

Complete with a set of Falken Ziex ZE912's to the front and rear, the tyre spec shows as 165/60 with date codes of 1995. Tyre walls to all sides show cracking to the sidewalls that's come with age. Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of this Mini and a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

Bodywork

This is a lovely example of a Paul Smith edition, the shut lines and panel gaps look good and we could see no visible distortion to the panels. Both doors and boot sections open and close well and the bonnet also, having been replaced in its current ownership.

We spotted a few small areas of corrosion; a very small bit on the top of the nearside front wing, the nearside door has a bit more at the bottom and little above the handle. The body coloured wheel arches show well and look to be in good condition when we looked over the car. As mentioned, the subframe on the car was replaced earlier in the current ownership.

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 at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in an exclusive "Paul Smith Blue", as part of the limited edition, there are hidden "Citrus Green" body parts, a trademark contrast touch, which you'll notice as you open the boot and bonnet.

The paint appeared to be in good condition on our visit, with even colour across each panel having been resprayed through its life. Again, please take time to review all the images and videos showing the paint from different angles and reflections, to assess the condition for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this limited-edition Paul Smith Mini looks good, we didn't notice any chips, cracks, or discolouration. The window seals look good too and in line with the rest of the condition of the car.

The car is fitted with a 24-carat gold enamelled Paul Smith bonnet badge and holds its original Paul Smith emblem to the rear glass. The chrome overall appears in a respectable condition, although we did note a few signs of pitting that comes with age.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

As a Paul Smith Edition, it comes standard with black leather, adding a touch of luxury to the interior.

Seats and Carpets

Paul Smith customisation continues within the cabin, this Mini was fitted with black leather seats with matching door cards and pockets, a styling point only available on this model. We noted no major signs of wear to the seating section.

The carpets are in decent condition, just a few areas of loose sections in the footwells on both sides which would benefit being glued back into place. The headlining of the interior did show a few marks and could benefit from a cleanup and some restorative work as noted in our interior gallery. We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

The body coloured dash appears in great shape with no issues or scratches to report. The top of the dash presents well and without splits or cracking to this section. Mileage counter showed with ~8,428 miles at the time of our visit. The stereo has been upgraded to a Kenwood system, present in the centre section of the cabin, but currently unplugged to avoid any unnecessary battery drain. The "Citrus Green" twist to the interior is hidden in the glovebox, along with the limited edition badge, Rain has placed some Paul Smith cuff-links in as an extra touch of style.

The dials, switch and controls are well presented, all faces look clean and clear and show without fogging or scratching. Magnolia dash clocks feature special style numbers on the gauges and a Paul Smith signature on the fuel/temp gauge. We noted no issues with any warning lights and the clock, speedometer, fuel gauge and rev counter and were all functioning without concern. Please take a look at the gallery images for a closer look at the interior sections.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The three-spoke Mini steering wheel is in good condition and straight forward in its approach. It's a no fuss setup designed with functionality in mind.

The gear stick is in a good condition and much like the steering wheel, no nonsense in its style. We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

This Paul Smith Mini is a quick little runner and the 1,275cc packs a punch, the design elements of this limited edition continuing to the mechanical areas.

Engine and Gearbox

The 1275cc engine fires up with the first flick of the key. No untoward noises are coming from the engine bay, and everything appears to be in good order with no signs of any leaks. Out on the road, the car pulls as well as you would expect through the rev range.

Gear changes are smooth, with no clunks from the rebuilt transmission. The brakes bring the car to a halt as they should, with no juddering through the pedal and in a straight line. Watch the video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out, we took the car around some local roads. We heard no knocks, bangs or unwanted noise from the underside after the restorative works completed to the suspension. Despite the bumpier roads, the car provided an enjoyable drive and performed as to be expected with no observed issues.

The brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us when on the journey and brought the car to a stop without a problem and with the kind of stopping power you'd expect. Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

The Drive

Being a classic Mini, its drive style is a big part of the enjoyment, close to the ground, handling is tight, fun and enjoyable, offering great traction on corners and a great experience.

Rain, the current owner, tells us more about his experience with it, "The 1,275cc engine gives it plenty of poke and it handles like a little go-kart. It turns heads and makes everyone smile. Everyone has a story about a Mini, either one they owed, or one they remember fondly growing up".

With the looks this good and an extremely fun driving experience, the Mini really sets itself apart from any other classic car on the market.

Electrics and Other

The Mini is equipped with an upgraded Kenwood stereo in the centre section of the cabin. This car comes with all the original Paul Smith toolbag and toolkit in the boot, along with the "Citrus Green" fuel tank.

Rain let us know that he has had no issues with the electrical elements on the car and to the best of his knowledge, everything was working as it should do.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

Coming to market from ~3.5 year ownership, a full gearbox rebuild, replacement subframe and paint and bodywork actioned as needed, this Paul Smith Mini is ready for many more adventures on the road.

The Paul Smith model is a really lovely car with plenty of quirky elements that make it a really special and exclusive car. Hidden highlights are included with citrus green finishing under the boot, bonnet and in the glovebox, all finished with a smart 24-carat gold plated Paul Smith bonnet badge.

When Rain took ownership of this car, he never intended for it to become a “project,” but discovered a few areas that needed attention. Shortly after purchasing it, Rain had to replace the subframe and address some essential suspension repairs. Since then, it has undergone paint and bodywork refinements, including a new bonnet, engine bay cleanup, and boot lid repairs. Last summer, he also had the gearbox fully rebuilt to fix synchro issues. Now, everything is sorted, the car drives beautifully once again.

Like most ~30-year-old cars, it has required some maintenance over time. However, it remains almost entirely factory-standard. A set of chrome wing mirrors replacing the original body-coloured ones, and replacement fog-lights. Inside, stereo has been replaced over time.

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, 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
14.06.2024 MOT 8,396
12.06.2023 MOT 8,330
30.05.2022 MOT 8,224
30.06.2021 MOT 8,114
19.06.2019 MOT 79,418 (Inaccurate Reading)
12.09.2017 MOT 7,821
07.07.2016 MOT 6,524
10.03.2015 MOT 53,265 (Inaccurate Reading)
01.04.2014 MOT 94,505
03.04.2013 MOT 85,605
05.03.2012 MOT 83,865
04.03.2011 MOT 82,334
23.03.2010 MOT 80,364
16.03.2009 MOT 76,993
03.04.2008 MOT 73,694
02.03.2007 MOT 69,636
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Key Details
  • Model Mini Paul Smith
  • Transmission Manual
  • Reg. Date 27.08.1998
  • CC 1,275
  • Mileage ~8,428 on clock
  • Colour Paul Smith Blue
  • Interior Colour Black
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # SAXXNWAZEWD161359
  • Engine # 12A2LL88 369968
  • Restored Yes
  • Engine Rebuild Yes
  • MOT Yes. Exp 29.06.2025
  • HPi Clear Yes
  • Former Keepers 8
  • Tyre Brand Falken
  • Tyre Age 1995
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned ~3 years, 6 months
  • Key Feature Rare model and gearbox rebuild
  • Auction ID 2460
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Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Leamington Spa

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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a Mini Paul Smith like this is £158 via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Winter 2025.

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    Vehicle Location

    Leamington Spa

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