.....and you thought Elans had gone silly

[jono]

Check this out

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22685/lot/405/

[elanfan1]

And it's a rust bucket too. Can't see much change out of ?15000 to put it right.

[pharriso]

My first 2 cars were both Minis... never understood the attraction!

[Fred Talmadge]

Even back in the '70s Minis were 4-5 times the price of Sprite. Something about us Americans it just held a fascination. Just not enough to get me out of a Sprite.

[theelanman]

Sold for ?39,100 (US$ 61,692) inc. premium

holy cow.........
Ive seen them break into the ?20k mark but they've been restored.......
twice the price for one which will need ?10k chucking at it......

I presume it can only be because of the rarity of the engine.......1071cc

[trw99]

Over the last couple of years barn finds have been going to remarkable prices. Even the term 'barn find' is getting stretched on occasion by the wonderful classic car dealers, Arfur.

So, why? I can only think that it is the visceral feeling each of us gets when we see a photo or the car for real: How would I transform that? What work would need to be undertaken? Would I keep this and reject that? And so forth. In other words, it is the promise it holds with regards to our individual vision of what it would become.

Any other theories?

Tim

[jono]

...... that particular example of an apparently completely original and unmolested 1071S is very rare indeed so the price realised is not entirely surprising in the current market.

There are so many cloned Cooper S Minis doing the rounds, and fetching serious money, that to find a 'proper' one (if indeed it is) means there will be significant interest.

I am not defending the price which I think is absurd, however it's an iconic car with real competition pedigree and a formula junior engine. What's not to like?

I would love one like that but would never be prepared to pay the money.

I will continue building my replicar instead