New lavish Mini being produced

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 31

New lavish Mini being produced

A lavishly equipped version of the Mini will be introduced by the Austin Rover division of BL, Ltd, next month to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Alec Issigonis-designed, transverse-engined front-wheel-drive car that has proved to be the trendsetter for the world’s volume car makers. Only 5000 examples of the Mini 25 will be produced and of that number 1500 will be for export markets. Available only in silver, the Mini 25 has grey and red stripes along its flanks and on the bootlid. Special wheel trims, wheel arch extensions, bumpers, grille, door handles and other exterior hardware are finished

in a contrasting silver metallic colour known as nimbus. Front disc brakes and uprated rear drums are employed and the wheels are fitted with 145/70 SRI2. tyres. A 998 cu cm version of the A plus Series engine is used. It develops 35.8 kW (48bhp). The car is upholstered and trimmed in flint velvet with contrasting red velvet piping. The reclining front seats with headrests incorporated also feature a zipped pocket on the front of the seat squab.

Co-ordinated cut-pile carpet and seat belts with red webbing complete the furnishings.

A triple dial instrument cluster, incorporating a tachometer, soft feel leatherbound steering wheel and a radio-cassette player with twin rear-mounted speakers are other features. Tinted class, twin exterior mirrors, reversing and rear fog lights, twin face level vents and opening rear windows, standard features on the Mini Mayfair, are also included. The price of the Mini 25 has not been announced yet Since its debut at the end of August, 25 years ago, some 4,960,000 Minis have been sold, half of them in export markets. Last year 28,000 Minis were sold in Britain alone.