1964 Austin Mini Mk I - ex Chris Evans

Designed as project ADO15 (Austin Drawing Office project number 15), the Mini came about because of a fuel shortage caused by the 1956 Suez Crisis. Petrol was once again rationed in the UK, sales of large cars slumped, the market for German bubble cars boomed. Leonard Lord, the somewhat autocratic head of BMC, reportedly detested these cars so much that he vowed to rid the streets of them and design a 'proper miniature car'. Issigonis, who had been working for Alvis, had been recruited back to BMC in 1955 and, with his skills in designing small cars, was a natural for the task. The team that designed the Mini was remarkably small: as well as Issigonis, there was Jack Daniels (who had worked with him on the Morris Minor), Chris Kingham (who had been with him at Alvis), two engineering students and four draughtsmen. Together, by October 1957, they had designed and built the original prototype, which was affectionately named "The Orange Box" because of its colour.

This 1964 Austin Mini Mk I has been built to Cooper 998cc specification. In 2003, the car was professionally restored by an employee at a leading classic car restoration specialist in Kent. He bored out the engine from 850cc to 998cc and made a number of significant upgrades. These included a fast-road cam, new exhaust system, disc brakes, dry suspension and an original British Leyland straight cut gearbox to name but a few. A large number of bills and receipts are available in the history file.

Silverstone Auctions had the pleasure of selling this car to Chris Evans in the past and he speaks very highly of the way it drives and the fun motoring it provided at the time.

Recently the subject of a recent service, fuel pump and MoT, the current vendor reports that he has used 'CBK 445B' only on sunny days and "It has entertained me immensely on the local roads around my home. The more you push it the better it gets!"

Buyers should be aware that 10% of the hammer proceeds will be donated to the Sporting Bears Charity by our vendor:

"This little car has raised a lot of money for Children in Need by the generosity of Mr Chris Evans and the subsequent owner, and so I thought I would like to continue its fundraising tradition by supporting the Sporting Bears Charity by donating 10% of the hammer price achieved in this auction to them."