It’s far too early to start thinking about Christmas, of course, but this classic Mini has a direct link to a famous festive song.
Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas was inspired by a real-life experience of journeying from London to his hometown of Middlesbrough in December 1978.
With his wife Joan at the wheel of their Austin Mini, endless traffic and heavy snow inspired Rea to write the lyrics for his instantly recognisable Christmas song.
Now a unique electric Mini, converted especially for Chris Rea, is heading to auction as part of the Iconic Auctioneers Race Retro sale, taking place next month. Anyone fancy a London to Middlesbrough road-trip?
Wired to the Moon
In 2021, BMW launched a winter marketing campaign focused on the Mini brand, asking owners to produce their own Driving Home for Christmas videos.
In recognition of Rea’s own contribution, BMW commissioned Mini Sport and Recharged Heritage to gift the musician an EV-converted classic Mini.
A special-edition Mini Thirty from 1989, originally built to celebrate the British car’s 30th anniversary, was chosen as a base for the electric restomod.
The end result features a brand-new electric powertrain and fresh black paint with silver bonnet stripes, plus some unique mementos of Rea’s ownership.
Don’t forget the lyrics
Open the bonnet, and where a tiny 998cc engine once lived is an electric motor. Adorning it are the lyrics to Driving Home for Christmas, presented in the style of a classic vinyl record.
A reminder of Rea’s journey from Abbey Road Studios to Middlesbrough is included, too. On the front of the power unit is a plaque, signed by Road to Hell singer Rea himself.
The completed car was presented in February 2023, later accompanied by a video that documented the detailed build process – and captured the big reveal.
All set for Christmas 2025
Known for owning a number of classic cars, from a Land Rover Series I to a Ferrari F355, Chris Rea has sold vehicles at auction before. Last year, for instance, Iconic Auctioneers sold his 1980 Ferrari Dino GT4 for £64,688.
The EV-converted Mini, despite its unique status, comes with a somewhat lower guide price. Iconic Auctioneers suggests it could achieve between £30,000 and £35,000 when it crosses the auction block.
If you want to make an early start on this year’s Christmas journey, the Race Retro sale takes place on Saturday 22 February 2025.
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