Lot Ended
Description
Very rare
opportunity to purchase the Holy Grail of the Mini world; one of only 436 sold
worldwide; 58,106 kms, (36,100 miles): Flame Red with air
conditioning
This 1990 Mini ERA Turbo
represents one of the most significant and desirable developments of the
original Mini. Produced between 1989 and 1991 by English Racing Automobiles at
their Dunstable facility in Bedfordshire, the ERA Turbo was the fastest
production Mini ever sold through official dealers and is widely regarded as the
spiritual successor to the Cooper and the 1275 GT.
At the heart of the car is a turbocharged Austin Rover A-Series
1275cc engine derived from the MG Metro, producing an impressive 94 bhp at 6,200
rpm. This gave the ERA Turbo a claimed top speed of 115 mph, extraordinary
performance for a Mini of its era. To handle the increase in power, ERA
extensively modified the suspension, braking system, cooling for both water and
oil, and refined the interior to match the car’s performance ambitions. The
distinctive body kit was styled by renowned designer Dennis Adams, best known
for his work on Marcos sports cars and the futuristic Probe
16.
Production was strictly limited, with only
approximately 436 examples ever built. Of these, just 90 to 99 cars were
originally allocated to the UK market, with the majority destined for Japan,
making surviving examples particularly sought after today.
This example is finished in Flame Red with a grey leather interior
and has had just one former keeper. It is a Japanese import and was brought into
the UK by the current vendor in January 2017, who has dry stored the car since
importation. The car was first registered in the UK on 1 January 2017 and is
fully road registered.
The odometer currently
displays 58,106 kilometres, which equates to approximately 36,100
miles.
On site, the car starts, stops, and drives as expected, performing
well during photography and video sessions.
A rare opportunity to acquire
a genuine, limited-production ERA Mini Turbo, combining period performance with
undeniable collector appeal.
Contact
james.booth@brightwells.com