17 replies to this topic

[taffy1967]

I had one from almost new bought from Rover in Chiswick. Drove all the way from Exeter to buy it after I saw it advertised in the Telegraph at a ridiculously low price. Imagine my horror when I got to the garage to find a completely different price on the windscreen! To their credit they told me they'd mistakenly advertised it for the cost price (showed me the invoice) but still sold it to me at the advertised price. I kept it for about five years, taking its mileage from 3000 to 53000.

No breakdowns apart from a clutch slave cylinder going. Rust had started to appear in the usual places by the time I sold it although I had fastidiously waxoyled the underneath and arches. The car was lovely and the interior especially so and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a well kept example. My local garage serviced both it and my mark one mini and I remember him remarking on the difference in build quality between the two in terms of gauge of steel and quality of components (not in favour of the Paul Smith!) Of all the limited editions this is my favourite so go for it if you like the look of it!

By the way, both the Paul Smith and my mark one got sold and were replaced by a low mileage mark two in what my other half calls 'district nurse blue' - my favourite mini of all those I've owned so far!

Simon

Well I agree that 1960's Minis had a different/thicker? grade of steel?

But I've also heard that the steel on later Minis was of a higher quality?

Don't know if that's correct though, but either way they all rust much the same.

[tomkidd]

I used to have one, it was great. They were the first MPI brought out by Rover and its when BMW were involved with Rover so they are very refined. Geared more for top end though. Be careful though as they'll be rusting about now.

No they weren't the first MPi brought out by Rover, the Paul Smith LE was launched in the summer of 1998, where as the MPi type Mini was introduced in October 1996.

And BMW got involved with Rover back in early 1994.

My mistake. My comment about BMW being involved wasn't meaning that it happened at the same time as the Paul smith, it just meant that minis from that period are refined.

[simon8201]

and i think im right in saying that i may have bought it off simon through ebay.

i had the front end fully replaced with heritage panels, lots of new chrome, even had the wheels overhauled.
i kept it 12 months, sold it, then bought it back a year later, then sold it on again.

its the one on my website - www.classicminisforsale.co.uk


paul smiths are one of my favourite minis - only 300 made in the blue colour for the UK market.
the green bits add great character.

as for the one your considering £3k is probably top money for one with 78k and no major bodywork replaced

indeed you did-good to hear from you! I never did find that sticker for the rear window - it's still here somewhere buried in a book to keep it flat. I'll probably find it in about thirty years!

Simon