A 2000 Mini Cooper Sport, owned from new by actress Britt Ekland, goes up for auction this weekend.
The rare Mini will be offered as part of the Winter Sale, hosted by Classic Car Auctions at Stoneleigh Park.
Although the auction features numerous classic Minis, the celebrity story behind this example is likely to attract bidders.
A 1960s icon
Ekland rose to fame during the 1960s, appearing in films with then-husband, Peter Sellers. During the 1970s, she starred in Get Carter, was cast as a lead Bond Girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and appeared in cult horror film The Wicker Man.
Sellers was responsible for introducing Ekland to the joys of Mini ownership. The car up for auction is one of many Minis enjoyed by the Swedish star.
The Cooper Sport was bought new by Ekland in December 2000. It has remained in her ownership since, having covered some 44,500 miles. This included being driven all the way to Sweden in 2014, plus a return journey to London in 2019.
No Stockholm syndrome
A flagship model of the Mini range in 2000, the Cooper Sport was one of the final iterations of the British classic. Just 2,200 examples were made, distinguished by their flared wheelarches, four spotlamps and 13-inch alloy wheels.
Finished in Solar Red, the Cooper Sport has its roof and body stripes in Platinum Silver. The full-length sunroof was a factory option, with the interior finished in silver and black leather.
As a relatively rare example from the end of Mini production, the Cooper Sport is already sought-after. Being owned by one of the 20th century’s most high-profile celebrities will only add to that.
Ahead of the sale on Saturday, 11 December, a pre-auction guide price of £10,000 to £12,000 has been set.
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