1960 AUSTIN SEVEN MINI DE-LUXE

This incredible Austin Mini survivor was despatched to Austin Dealer, Lathams Limited of Leicester, on the 23 September 1960, barely one year after the introduction of the Mini in August 1959 and remained in the Leicester area until 2022. Finished in Tartan red with dual-tone red and grey vinyl de-luxe trIm, it is a matching numbers car and, being an early example, still possesses many of the early and desirable production features. The mileage indicated on the odometer is 46,820.  

Owned by Mrs Eggleton until July 1966, the car was then sold to long-term custodian, Mr Burton at 22,709 miles.  Mr Burton kept a meticulous log of every fuel fill up and all work in his diary.  A fascinating journey can be tracked over his years of ownership with photos of Mr Burton proudly standing next to his pride and joy and of period repairs carried out.  Photo negatives of the car in its heyday are in the history file and even include photos of the car next to his Austin 1300, the televised funeral of Winston Churchill in January 1965 and one of the car at the side of a snowy road when it lost final drive. Being very ‘hands-on’ Mr Burton fitted some period BMC accessories including wing mirrors, interior dash light and a tow bar. Original handbooks, maps and workshop manuals were all discovered in the car.  Later artefacts found in door bins include 5p parking tickets and Green Shield stamps.

The car was used less in later years and upon Mr Burton's passing in October 2005, it remained in his garage until his wife decided to sell it in 2015.  A photo of the car in the garage at this time is with the history file. In April 2015 Mrs Burton wrote to the DVLA to obtain a new V5 but unfortunately did not complete this due to illness and the car was sold in 2021 to Kenneth Evans in Leicester who recommissioned it and obtained an age-related plate.  Deciding to keep the car original and untouched, but operational, the car was sold to KGF Classic Cars in April 2022 to form part of their static showroom display.

Correspondence to reinstate the original registration number exists in the history file with the British Mini Club recommending ‘this Austin Mini Saloon should have an age-related plate as stated on the original registration document, WJU 751 from 1960, on a non-transferable basis. This would help preserve the classic Mini heritage for future generations’. The current number issued is 970 XVR.

Paperwork with the car includes the V5C, old MoT certificates, a heritage certificate, brochures, handbooks and workshop manuals, as well as the items mentioned above.            

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