Oldest Unrestored Mini on the Planet Sold for $65,000

The planet’s oldest unrestored mini was auctioned off for $65,000 at the Royal Air Force Museum in England on April 30.

Visibly suffering from rusted edges and partially corroded floors, rocker panels, and trunk floor, the 1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon was the eighth car of its kind to roll off the production line. Automobile historians say that there are only three older minis still in existence today. Having sat in storage in a garage for a good number of years, its 848cc four-cylinder engine has not been started in years. It is believed that the engine is seized.

Remarkably, historians say that the odometer reading of 30,041 is correct. Earning a bid of $65,000, the car nearly sold for about three times its pre-sale estimate of $19,000 to $24,000. Wow.  Just imagine how much it will cost to insure a Mini Cooper like this one.