1977 Mini 998cc Auto

This rare ‘Russet Brown’ 1977 Mini 1000 automatic is in very reasonable, very original condition and has recently passed an MoT (valid until 12.3.25) with no advisories. 

The vendor, who has owned the car for just over a year, was told by the previous owner that the low mileage is correct and, although this can’t be verified, a brief perusal of old MoT certificates shows that the mileage was recorded as being 28,000 in 2004.

Either way, the car has clearly seen very little use in the last quarter of a century and would appear to have been well looked-after and curated throughout its life.

The car drives very well indeed and feels properly screwed together.

As you’ll see from the invoices, he has bought a full gasket and seal set from Mini Spares, which you’ll find in a box in the boot, along with some chromed plastic trim for the body seams.

Four new Falken tyres were fitted in 2023 and the car had a full brake overhaul in 2021, since when it has covered very few miles.

The condition of the bodywork is really very good indeed.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are good and the doors close as they should.

There are no dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds to the metal anywhere that we can see, aside from the usual minor warps and bends to some of the protruding body seams.

The ‘Russet Brown’ paintwork has plenty of warmth and lustre to it and the car’s chrome work is good all round, save for small bit of chrome plate that’s flaked away from the bottom of the rear bumper. 

There’s no foxing, pitting or tarnishing to speak of, and the wheels are in very fine fettle.

The tyres, being new, have plenty of life left in them.

We did notice that the chrome trim is missing from the near side but a replacement is included with the car. 

The paintwork is a little blistered and pimply on the n/s/r wing and its o/s/f counterpart.

The join where the top of the o/s/f wing meets the bodywork beneath the windscreen appears to be filled in with paint or, has, perhaps, been welded at some point.

The car’s lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all good.

The inside is every bit as well-preserved and expertly curated as its exterior counterpart.

The original ‘deck chair’ upholstery is fine in the rear but there are rips to the seat squabs on the front seats, which are otherwise supportive and comfortable.

The brown carpets and mats are decent, as is the roof lining, although it is stained in places.

The door cards are in fine order.

The sun visors have turned decidedly crispy.

The dashboard is devoid of any cracks or fading and the instruments and dials are in good working order – as far as we can tell.

We didn’t press every button, flip every toggle or tweak every knob, but those we did press, flip and tweak did as they were told without any reluctance or disobedience. 

The boot is fine and contains a spare wheel and a box of assorted parts, as described above. 

Everything in the engine bay appears to be in its right and proper place. 

The undersides of the car look to have a decent amount of structural integrity, from what we can see. 

There is some rust and flaking to be seen here and there – clearly, you’ll want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

This car comes with plenty of invoices and bills covering recent expenditure, plus a few older receipts. 

It has full sets of keys, a V5C, a clear HPI report and various manuals and handbooks.

This seems to us to be a rare (it’s an auto) and honest survivor from the 1970s and one that has more than enough mechanical and cosmetic integrity to repay its next owner with many years of highly enjoyable motoring.

What it needs most is using.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £5,000 - £8,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.