Today the best-selling convertible in markets like the UK, the Mini Cabriolet was originally released in 1993, in the last few years of the classic Rover Mini's existence. With the curiosity of costing almost double the asking price for the closed model!
Boasting a structurally reinforced body and available in just two colors, Caribbean Blue with a gray top and Nightfire Red with an identical color top, the original Mini Cabriolet had the same mechanical specs as the Cooper 1.3i. Although with a more luxurious interior, 12” Revolution wheels and metallic inserts.
The first Mini… German
Even so, it is worth mentioning that, two years before the launch, a German company, Lamm Autohaus, had manufactured 75 units of a conversion, called Mini Lamm Cabriolet. Which ended up disappearing in a flash!
Before that, still during the 60s, several Minis with canvas tops were produced, as a result of conversions from the original model. Of which, one of the most famous, was the Crayford Mini, whose first unit was sold in 1963, that is, 55 years ago.
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The official Mini Cabriolet
However, despite these “attempts”, the first official mass-production Mini Cabriolet ended up being the 1993 variant. This was followed, in 2004, by the presentation of the modern version, created under the aegis of BMW.
Of the current model, more than 89,000 units have already been sold , 43% of which is based on the Cooper version, the majority wearing the Pepper White exterior color. 86% were equipped with a manual transmission.
The commemorative edition
In order to mark the quarter century of the Mini Cabriolet, the British brand decided to create a special and limited anniversary version, called, precisely, 25th Anniversary Edition , of which only 300 units will be made.
In addition to being numbered, the units in question will be offered only in the exterior color Starlight Blue metallic and black hood, with the Union Jack (English flag) drawn in gray.
Based on the Cooper S version, the Mini Cabriolet 25th Anniversary Edition also features exterior mirror covers and stripes in white, two-tone 18-inch Vanity Spoke wheels, Chili pack, Navigation Plus and Harman Kardon sound system, as well as an interior in white leather, with blue edges.
The only drawback: it will only be available on the British market, where it will have prices starting at 32,995 pounds sterling, around 37,400 euros.
