The weird car you’re looking at is known as the 1984 Mini 1000 HLE by Tickford and it might just be the most unique and desirable Mini on earth.
The Mini was recently listed up for auction via Bonhams prior to its sales event last weekend. While it is unclear if the car was sold, its listing details a Mini quite unlike any other and one that is bound to excite certain collectors and enthusiasts.
According to Bonhams, the car was commissioned for an unnamed Saudi Arabian Prince involved in the oil and gas industry. It was built by Tickford, Aston Martin’s coachbuilding subsidiary and apparently cost the prince £50,000 for the Tickford upgrades alone, not including the cost of the original Mini itself. That equates to around £150,000 ($186,000) in today’s money.
In transforming the tiny hatchback, Tickford drastically altered the front end with a blanked-off grille, a distinctive spoiler, and a stacked headlight arrangement. Other modifications made include the fitment of new wheels, flared wheel arches, and a black vinyl roof. It also gave the car a fresh lick of paint before working its magic on the car’s interior.
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The listing notes that the car sports a pair of Recaro seats trimmed in bright red leather. It also has an Aston Martin burr walnut dashboard and is also equipped with a Clarion sound system and speakers. It was also commissioned in left-hand drive as the prince apparently wanted to drive it in Europe.
It is unclear if Tickford made any modifications to the Mini’s engine but the car has only been driven 13,065 km (8,118 miles) and was only recently purchased by the Bonhams vendor after not being seen for over 30 years. If the engine is untouched, that means it is a 998 cc four-cylinder naturally-aspirated mill that produced 41 hp when it was new.
