This 1997 Rover Mini Cooper was inspected for a client at USS Tokyo auction on 24 November 2016.
Average body and engine condition for a Mini of this age. Interior condition was above average. 22,000 kms noted on the auction sheet but based on the condition these were not genuine.
Rust noted under the doors, battery tray, and rear bumper attachments.
Left front fender faded, rest of the body also faded but not as bad as the fender which needed paint.
Air cleaner modified, as well as muffler, otherwise standard. Muffler had scrapes.
Oil leaking around the head cover gasket at the top of the engine.
Interior was nice, minor wrinkles and scuffs and some small cracks here and there but pretty good overall.
Passenger side dash near heater switches had holes drilled through at some point.
This 1997 Rover Mini Cooper was eligible for import under the SEVS import regulations for Australia.
It sold for 776,000 Yen FOB which would have been approx. $18,400 complied in Australia at the time (at 83 Yen to the dollar).
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G’day Geoff
Here are some photos of my Toyota MR-2 GT that you obtained for me from Japan a few years ago and delivered to Tasmania. You may remember.
I bought the car with intention of racing it in Tarmac Rallies. So far we have run it in Targa Tasmania three times. This year we were 20th in the Classic Cars section out of a field of 100 competitors. Our car is stock except for the 17″ wheels which puts us in the highest modified class. Most of the vehicles we compete against are highly developed racing machines.
I am frequently asked where I got the car from and how to go about doing so. There is an opportunity to promote Prestige Motorsport on the vehicle if you are interested.
I hope you enjoy the photos.
Regards
Lawrie