1991 Rover Mini Cabriolet by Lamm Autohaus

• 1 of only 75 LAMM-converted Mini Cabriolets, commissioned by Rover, proving the demand for such a car was evident
•  An expensive and upmarket Mini at launch, it proved extremely popular, with all 75 cars selling out within a month
• Only offered in Pearlescent Cherry Red with a matching maroon hood, the luxurious interior included a wood-grain dashboard, Cooper-style leather steering wheel and Clarion stereo
• All examples had Mini-Cooper mechanicals and a 1275cc engine with a carburettor
• This is a UK example with just 12,548 miles and 2 owners – four owners in total, the last being husband & wife
• In storage from 1995 until a recent full recommissioning and thorough overhaul

While there have been many independent companies converting Minis, and all manner of other cars into cabriolets, probably the best known of them in the UK was Crayford. Surprisingly, it was not until 1993, some 34 years after production had commenced, that there was an official soft-top Mini.

By the late 1980s, there had been a massive revival in everything Mini, especially in Japan, so Rover started to take notice. In 1991, but still commercially wary of producing their own Mini Cabriolet, Rover contacted Lamm Autohaus, based in in Achern in Germany, as their German Rover dealer, who had been producing its own coach-built Mini cabriolets since the 1980s.

Effectively a taster exercise to see if there was any real demand for such a car to be sold in the mainstream range, and whether the expense of Rover Special Projects (RSP) could be justified, Rover contracted Lamm to build 75 prototypes. All the cars were built in right-hand-drive form for sale though 12 selected Rover dealers.

The conversion was straightforward, Lamm remove the roof, replacing it with a folding fabric convertible hood that incorporated the plastic rear windows. The bodyshell was substantially strengthened to compensate for the resulting loss of rigidity and the Lamm Cabriolet featured Revolution alloy wheels and a colour-matched body kit consisting of dramatically extended wheel arches, front spoiler, side skirts and integral bumpers. It was offered in only one colour - Pearlescent Cherry Red (paint code GOC) with a matching maroon hood, whilst the luxurious interior used the limited-edition Mini Mayfair’s seats and trim, which were complemented by a wood-grain dashboard, Cooper-style leather-covered steering wheel and Clarion stereo system. All cars had Mini-Cooper mechanicals and a 1275cc engine with a carburettor.

When it was launched on 23rd June 1991, the list price of £12,250 was high - and immediately cast the car into a rather exclusive niche. It may have been an expensive product, but it also proved extremely popular, and all 75 cars sold out within a month. Rover was convinced, and RSP started to develop, along with Karmann and Tickford, its own version of the car, which was launched just over a year later, with circa 300 examples produced.

The Lamm cars have two distinct differences which make them instantly distinguishable from Rover's version: the first is the paint colour. Although the red looks like Rover's Nightfire Red, it is in fact a deeper Cherry Red. The second and more noticeable difference is the hood, Lamm cars have plastic rear side windows, whereas Rover used unique wind-down glass windows.

The car presented here is 1 of the 75 examples built by Lamm Autohaus to the highest of standards. Using their years of experience in producing this sort of Mini, the quality of the conversion by Lamm is evident. This lovely example has only ever been owned by four registered keepers in total, with the last two being husband and wife, prior to our vendor acquiring it. He was absolutely smitten with it, understanding the rarity and originality of this particular car, and with so few miles covered, he set about a comprehensive recommissioning including the vulnerable sub-frames. It is now in rude health, mechanically strong and presents in lovely condition. With the intended recipient of the car not that enamoured with actually driving it, it is now for sale to someone who will truly enjoy and appreciate it. Accompanied by all its original manuals, Lamm Mini catalogues and numerous magazine articles about the model, this car is a little gem.