News & Features June 15, 2007, 4:41PM EST

Classic Mini Cooper

(page 2 of 2)

Related Items

1964 Mini Cooper 1275S

Story Tools

DJB 93B recorded the highest price ever paid for an ex-Works Mini in a public auction. The car sold to a U.K. private collector.

Is the car worth the money? Historic rally folk do not judge a rally car in the same way as a road car. Provenance is everything and these buyers will pay a lot if this is right. The question is whether or not the restored DJB 93B has retained enough of the race-winning car to be a piece of history.

For a historic rally car to maximize its value, it has to retain as many period components as possible, including its chassis (or monocoque). It has to have achieved significant results in period, and it has to have been restored by a knowledgeable specialist. DJB 93B scores on at least two of these categories, even if similarities to George Washington's axe (three new heads, five new handles) come to mind.

Buyer must be happy with provenance

DJB 93B was the only Mini ever to win the RAC Rally and has a unique place in history. Although the changes made by the original Works team and the recent restorers may have been considerable, the car has an almost complete history and the buyer must have been happy with the provenance.

Industry insiders were reassured because the seller was a former co-driver to Hannu Mikkola and others. Further, no one could criticize the quality of the work that went into the resurrection. The level of accuracy in the replacement bodyshell, engine, transmission, suspension, windows, seats, dashboard, and suspension is reportedly hard to fault.

Rally cars lead extremely hard lives. In the technological infancy of 1965, bodyshells were less strong and rally cars were re-shelled more frequently than now. Works teams and racing privateers often stripped a damaged shell of everything that could be re-used for the next event. It was reasonably common practice for Works teams to swap a number plate between several different cars that were being used simultaneously. As a result, rally car collectors are generally less obsessed with matching numbers and originality.

There might be very little left of the car that won the 1965 RAC Rally, but even so, DJB 93B's checkered past is typical. Should anyone turn up what is purported to be the original 1965 shell, competing claims to the provenance are likely to be offset by the more continuous history of this car.

Restorers were rigorous about accuracy

Another plus point for the buyer is that DJB 93B can be used in anger on modern historic events with a clear conscience. It has already been re-shelled out of period so another replacement bodyshell should not devalue it.

If the RAC Rally had been won by other Works Minis during the model's competitive career, DJB 93B would have been an also-ran. And if the vendor were not so exacting about the restoration, this car would be just another resurrected Works Mini. But the restorers were rigorous and DJB 93B has been beautifully rebuilt to period-correct specifications. The market has spoken as to its value.

Years Produced: 1964-71

Number Produced: 191,242

Original List Price: $2,181

SCM Valuation: $18,000-$30,000 (at time of print)

Tune-up Cost: $200

Distributor Caps: $9

Chassis #: CA2S7662044

Chassis # Location: Riveted to radiator shroud

Engine # Location: Below thermostat housing

Club Info: Mini Cooper Club, 59 Giraud Street, Poplar, London, E14 6EE, UK; Mini Cooper Register, P.O. Box 1275, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4XD, UK.

Web Site: http://www.minicooper.org

Alternatives: 1964-67 Renault R8 Gordini, 1963-67 Ford Lotus-Cortina, 1965-67 Saab Monte Carlo 850