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Have I (again) solved the great Mini search? March 29, 2009

Posted by richard in : Minutiae of cars , trackback

So, as you know, I’ve been looking back at old road tests in Autocar. The Mayfair one was revealing. While the 1997 Cooper one properly got me going.

I asked the question, wonder if the Mayfair’s still on the road? Tom Rowan answered it – probably not. He did a canny registration search, and discovered the potentially bad news.

have-i-again-solved-the-great-mini-searchWell then, I thought… if it worked for that, why shouldn’t it also work for P 752 KWK, the 1997 Rover press fleet car?

To the DVLA link I duly went. Whence, I got back some very interesting news.

The car still exists.

But it’s currently declared SORN.

Why? What’s it doing? Where’s it living? Has it been crash-damaged, and is currently being repaired? Is it a restoration project? Has the owner discovered its famed provenance, and is keeping it safely stored in a lockup somewhere?

I don’t know! But I would love to… see, if this is a car in ill health, that the owner wants to move on for minimal bucks, I’d definitely be interested. Hey – owning an ex-press car… what a thrill!

It could even be the same car my boss Peter Burgess had down here on loan all those years ago. It could be the same test car my mates at Autocar thrashed around the track. Providing me with the delights to pour over a few weeks later.

It’d be nice to find out. Anyone out there recognise it, and can help? If so, let me know.

Because, staring at the images, a metallic orange Rover Cooper on 13”s would do the job quite nicely, I think…

Can you help me buy a Mini in 2009?

Mini search over already? If I’m lucky

What can I expect from a Mini?

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