24th May, 2012 14:30
The Pavilion Gardens
1960 Morris Mini Minor
Estimated at £6,500 - £7,500
Lot details
Registration No: 488 YME
Chassis No: M-AS24-15432
Mot Expiry: March 2013
This decidedly unique Mini hailed from BMC's Morris plant on February 18th 1960, so is an early example. It was finished in British Racing Green when purchased in January 2006 by MGM Cars Ltd of Elstree Studios from a London dealer. Along with that other equally famous '60s icon Twiggy, it was to play a starring role in the memorable series of M&S adverts devised by the advertising agency RKCR/Y&R to help relaunch the company's ailing clothing range. But first, the Mini itself had to undergo some serious rebranding - think swinging sixties, think flower power!
Enter de Gournay, producers of luxurious hand-painted wallpaper, who had designed the set for filming, so were commissioned to produce the flowery patterns from which the studio then hand-painted the Mini. In addition to featuring in the TV commercials, '488 YME' also made guest appearances at a number of M&S stores, rapidly becoming a celebrity in its own right. It then became the subject of a competition in the Mail On Sunday's You magazine - the lucky winner of which was a Mrs Sharon Clarke of Cambridge. However, it seems she was a serial competition doer with no interest in her prize, so advertised it in a classic car magazine. The purchasers were well known Mini enthusiasts Janet and Trevor Ripley. They kept it for a while before selling it on eBay, following which it ended up with Rebecca Scaife in Dublin.
By this stage arch Mini man and a co-founder of the 1959 Mini Register Bill Bell had already turned down the chance to own the car once, so snapped up the next one, when Rebecca decided to move it on in February 2009. Having been loaned to the British Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon for the 50th anniversary celebrations it remained there until March last year. The subject of no less than three model cars, '488 YME' is now offered complete with MOT into March 2013.
PLEASE NOTE: Since the catalogue went to press we have been contacted by Mrs Sharon Clarke who tells us that she is a classic car enthusiast but was unable to keep the Mini due to storage and insurance issues. Mrs Clarke also informs us that she contacted the Mini Club of Great Britain to help sell the car rather than just advertising it in the classic car press because she wanted to be sure of it going to a suitable enthusiast.
Registration No: 488 YME
Chassis No: M-AS24-15432
Mot Expiry: March 2013
This decidedly unique Mini hailed from BMC's Morris plant on February 18th 1960, so is an early example. It was finished in British Racing Green when purchased in January 2006 by MGM Cars Ltd of Elstree Studios from a London dealer. Along with that other equally famous '60s icon Twiggy, it was to play a starring role in the memorable series of M&S adverts devised by the advertising agency RKCR/Y&R to help relaunch the company's ailing clothing range. But first, the Mini itself had to undergo some serious rebranding - think swinging sixties, think flower power!
Enter de Gournay, producers of luxurious hand-painted wallpaper, who had designed the set for filming, so were commissioned to produce the flowery patterns from which the studio then hand-painted the Mini. In addition to featuring in the TV commercials, '488 YME' also made guest appearances at a number of M&S stores, rapidly becoming a celebrity in its own right. It then became the subject of a competition in the Mail On Sunday's You magazine - the lucky winner of which was a Mrs Sharon Clarke of Cambridge. However, it seems she was a serial competition doer with no interest in her prize, so advertised it in a classic car magazine. The purchasers were well known Mini enthusiasts Janet and Trevor Ripley. They kept it for a while before selling it on eBay, following which it ended up with Rebecca Scaife in Dublin.
By this stage arch Mini man and a co-founder of the 1959 Mini Register Bill Bell had already turned down the chance to own the car once, so snapped up the next one, when Rebecca decided to move it on in February 2009. Having been loaned to the British Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon for the 50th anniversary celebrations it remained there until March last year. The subject of no less than three model cars, '488 YME' is now offered complete with MOT into March 2013.
PLEASE NOTE: Since the catalogue went to press we have been contacted by Mrs Sharon Clarke who tells us that she is a classic car enthusiast but was unable to keep the Mini due to storage and insurance issues. Mrs Clarke also informs us that she contacted the Mini Club of Great Britain to help sell the car rather than just advertising it in the classic car press because she wanted to be sure of it going to a suitable enthusiast.
Auction: The Pavilion Gardens, 24th May, 2012
All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.
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