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2000 Rover Mini Cooper Sport

At a Glance

Modest Mileage | Long Ownership | Garage Stored | Gearbox Rebuild

  • Mileage~55,836
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.3L
  • LocationRochester

AUCTION LIVE

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CURRENT BID£1,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£1,000

Introduction

Dom Ginn
Professional Consigner

A final edition of a motoring icon, blending classic Mini charm with a lively engine and standout sporty design.

This is the car that sparked the small-car revolution, and for many, the Mini holds a special place in their memories. Launched in 1959, it popularised the front-wheel-drive transverse engine layout, quickly becoming the blueprint for small cars. The Mini's rally prowess also shone through, particularly with the Cooper name, as it handled both forest and tarmac stages with ease. After 41 years of production, the Mini continued until 2000, leaving a lasting legacy.

In 1996, the Mini had one final hurrah with a revitalised version as a tribute to the classic. These later models brought significant upgrades, including a driver’s airbag, seatbelt pre-tensioners, side door anti-intrusion beams, an immobiliser, and distributor-less electronic ignition.

This example is equipped with the popular Sport Pack option as a standard fitting. Distinguishable by its platinum silver roof and bonnet stripes, the significant difference was inside, with a tasteful alloy-trimmed dashboard, leather steering wheel, window winders, door pulls, and handles. The seats were also given a unique colour theme, with silver leather and black facings. This swan song model was a fitting tribute to one of Britain’s most beloved cars.

This example comes to market after ~18 and a half years with our vendor, it presents a unique opportunity to obtain what is considered one of the most usable and refined Minis ever made. The Cooper is complete with the owner’s handbook and portfolio. It has benefited from being garage-stored over its ownership, a historic gearbox rebuild, and previous restorative work carried out to the wings and sills. It has recently had a new fuel pump fitted and carries a current MOT valid until 02/02/2025.

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

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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.

Meet the owner

It's not just a car; it's a lifestyle. The Mini gives such sense of nostalgia and excitement - it always keeps me coming back for more!

Having owned the car for almost 18 and a half years, the Mini has been Paula's pride and joy: "I've really loved the Cooper; it's been a car that has served me well, and I've enjoyed many great experiences with it".

Paula feels it’s now time for another owner to enjoy the Mini. “I have loved owning this car, but I am not using it as much as I should. We've recently moved home, and we aren't able to store it in the garage anymore, so I have reluctantly decided to sell it to allow someone else to enjoy it”.

Paula will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section below.

Paula
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior

With its flared wheel arches, bold racing stripes and gleaming chrome accents, this legend stands out with a sporty, retro flair.

Wheels and Tyres

The 13" Minilite alloy wheels and centre caps complement the car well. Finished in silver, they all appeared to be in good condition. We didn’t notice any major damage or concerns, just a few signs of wear and age.

The Mini is fitted with a mix of tyres, a matching set of Maxxis at the front and a Yokohama and Dunlop at the rear, showing 175/50 all round. All tyres appeared to be in good visual condition with no initial concerns about the remaining tread. Take a look through the pictures to see the detail.

Bodywork

The Mini’s bodywork is in great condition; looking around the car, there are no apparent dings or dents that we noted on our visit. Door shut lines are visually equal and matching, as are the bonnet and boot.

Restorative work was carried out on both front wings, offside and nearside door steps, side sills and side a-panels in 2015. Works included welding, repairs and repainting and cost over £560.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The paintwork on the Mini has great coverage across the panels and is finished in a lovely classic colour of "British Racing Green"—complemented by the silver roof finish. We didn’t note any major concerns, as the exterior of the car looked in great shape.

We did notice a few stone chips on the exterior, particularly at the front of the car and a couple of spots on the side panels, although these didn’t detract from the overall appearance of the Cooper. The sporty bonnet stripes were renewed in June 2011.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass and trim sections on the Cooper were in great condition, consistent with the car's age; we didn't notice any cracks or discolouration during our visit. The window seals looked smart and showed no concerns, matching the rest of the car.

The chrome work is in good shape, and the lights and lenses are intact. The front fog light glass shows minor signs of age, but is otherwise free of damage. Badges and emblems are present and correct.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review the video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself, so you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

Interior

Sleek leather seats with bold accents and a stylish, sporty dashboard, the cabin exudes retro cool with an edge of luxury.

Seats and Carpets

The Mini is equipped with black and silver leather seats, which are in good condition, reflecting the low mileage, with only a few signs of wear. These seats are part of the "Cooper Sport" package. The rear seats are also in good shape, with limited signs of wear.

The car comes with black main floor mats, and the carpet areas in both the cabin and boot are in good condition, although they would benefit from a clean. The door cards could also benefit from some freshening up, as they were looking a little tired. We cover the cabin area of the Mini in more detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

The dash area proudly displays the instruments within a turned-alloy fascia. The stitching on the leather padded surfaces is free from damage, with no issues with the condition of the switches and dials.

The dials, switches, and controls all appear to be in great condition, with surfaces free from fogging or scratching.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The black and silver leather bound steering wheel is in good shape, and the alloy gear knob looks really smart, perfectly complementing the rest of the interior.

We've featured more images of the cabin area, including the steering wheel, in our Interior Gallery section—head over to see more detail on what the Cooper has to offer.

Mechanics

Powered by a 1.3L engine with ~63 BHP, it offers nimble handling and a low, sporty stance, making every corner a thrill with the engaging manual gearbox.

Engine and Gearbox

The 1275 A Series fuel-injected engine sounds lovely on the road. The engine bay shows no signs of leaks or noticeable damage. It’s paired with a 4-speed gearbox, providing a smooth driving experience. Starting up from cold, we noted no concerns, and the Mini performed without issue when running and out on the road.

The manual gearbox worked well, producing no unwanted noises and raising no concerns regarding its performance while driving. We took the car out on some local roads with the current owner Paula's husband to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. During the drive, we ran through the motions, taking the Cooper through the gears and gaining an overview of how the car performs.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs, or issues from the suspension while on the road; it gave us no concerns regarding its performance.

The January 2024 MOT noted that "the nearside and offside front lower suspension arm ball joint has slight play." Although this was noted, we didn't find any concerns with handling while out driving.

The brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line, with no juddering reported through the pedal. The stopping power and control felt great, worked as expected, and were in line with our expectations.

The Drive

Paula, the current owner, tells us more about her driving experiences with the Mini: "It does everything it should do without issues. I've loved every minute of driving this car as it handles so well. Being close to the ground, the car feels like it really sticks to the road. It's nimble and a quick little car, equally comfortable around town or on faster roads."

Our 'On the Road' video provides an overview of the car and its performance while driving with Paula's husband.

Electrics and Other

Paula told us that she has had no issues with the electrical elements of the car and confirms everything is working as it should, to her knowledge.

The Cooper features a JVC CD/stereo player in the dashboard area. All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and are in great condition.

History and Paperwork

The Mini comes to market with low mileage, long ownership and under ~1,000 miles covered in the last ~10 years.

The Cooper comes with a good amount of historical paperwork and receipts for previous work carried out. The owner's handbook and driver's portfolio are also included in the final sale.

A new fuel pump was installed in September 2024. The Cooper had a replacement thermostat kit and fan sensor switch fitted in February and March 2023. A new battery was installed in January 2023, along with an oil and air filter change, new steering rack boots, rear brake shoes and cylinder, and a nearside track rod end. The Mini had its clutch slave replaced in April 2014, a replacement boot lid cable in January 2013, a new headlamp stone guard in May 2012, and a wheel bearing kit change in July 2011.

A gearbox rebuild with new bearings and seals, new spark plugs, a transmission set, and a new clutch was completed in October 2009. In February 2008, a new 8-slat internal release grille and engine stabiliser bushes were fitted. Full servicing was carried out in October 2003, including a brake system and suspension check. Servicing was completed in July 2001, with both front tyres replaced.

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
19.01.2024 MOT 55,756
25.01.2023 MOT 55,632
03.02.2022 MOT 55,556
07.04.2017 MOT 55,422
05.08.2014 MOT 54,843
26.07.2013 MOT 51,456
19.07.2012 MOT 49,277
20.07.2011 MOT 46,983
11.06.2010 MOT 44,451
21.10.2009 Gearbox Rebuild
01.06.2009 MOT 42,928
03.06.2008 MOT 38,928
31.05.2007 MOT 32,685
25.05.2006 MOT 27,320
29.03.2005 MOT 23,751
18.03.2004 MOT 19,987
30.10.2003 Service 19,393
30.07.2001 Service 9,560
Key Details
  • ModelCooper Sport
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date31.07.2000
  • CC1,275
  • Mileage~55,836
  • ColourBritish Racing Green
  • Interior ColourBlack / Silver
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #SAXXNPAZEYD185708
  • Engine #12A2LK70398729
  • MOTYes. Exp 02.02.25
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers4
  • Tyre BrandMaxxis, Yokohama and Dunlop
  • CO2 (g/km)164
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~18 years, 5 months
  • Key FeatureLow Mileage and Long Ownership
  • Vehicle RegistrationW654 SGA
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body Type2 Door Saloon
  • Auction ID2218


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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a Mini like this is £153 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 Autumn 2024.

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    Vehicle Location

    Rochester

    Key Bidding Facts

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