"The history of this revolutionary motorcar is well known and its impact socially, culturally and mechanically is well documented. The Swinging Sixties, The Beatles, Twiggy and the Mini are inexorably combined to represent an era that is remembered with great fondness by many people. The side story is the Mini's impact on motorsport and this is no less extraordinary. Issigonis' friend John Cooper, owner of the Cooper Car Company and designer and builder of Formula One and rally cars, saw the potential of the Mini for competition and a formidable opponent it soon became. The production version of the Mini was demonstrated to the press in April 1959 and by August several thousand cars had been produced ready for the first sales. The Mini was officially announced to the public on 26 August 1959. The first example, a Morris Mini-Minor with the registration 621 AOK, is on display at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire. Another early example from 1959 is on display at the National Motor Museum in Hampshire.
The Mini was marketed under BMC's two main brand names, Austin and Morris, until 1969, when it became a marque in its own right. The Morris version was known to all as ‘the Mini’ or the ‘Morris Mini-Minor’.This stunning example was imported from New Zealand in 2017, where it had undergone a fabulous refurbishment which included the seats being retrimmed in the famous Spinneybeck hide (one of the finest Italian leather trim available), Wilton carpet, brand new trim and period Cooper S racing wheels being fitted. This is one of the finest examples of this popular and sought-after city runabout. The previous owner was meticulous in his detail when carrying out this work and the result is simply superb. This has to be one of the best available on the market today."