One of the most influential automobiles of all time, the Alec Issigonis-designed Mini debuted in 1959 to universal acclaim. True, there had been numerous front-wheel-drive designs before the Mini's arrival, but the transverse engine layout enabled Issigonis to create a trend-setting masterpiece of automotive packaging. BMC chose to market the car as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor before Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969. The early Mk1 had the 848cc A-Series engine, rubber cone suspension, and floor-mounted starter button, the latter two features being replaced by Hydrolastic suspension and key starting respectively in 1964.

The Mini offered here is one of roughly 10,000 Minis that was delivered new to the United States between 1960 and 1967. The original owner, an enthusiast from Indiana, was clearly smitten by the little car's excellent handling in the wet, dry, and snow as he kept the car for 35 years—even restoring it in 1990 to keep the Mini as good as when he had first gotten it. In 1998 the car was bought by its second owner, a doctor from Illinois. Acquired by the vendor a few years ago, the three-owner-from-new Mini was brought down to the west coast of Florida to live out the good life in the warmth and sun.

Carefully maintained, still retaining the driver's handbook, and showing only about 35,000 believed-to-be-original miles on the clock (the original odometer had seized but it was immediately replaced with another unit clocked in where the old one had left off), this MkI Mini is just getting started. The Mini's popularity as a collectible blossomed long after the last cars had been imported, so survival rates of original US delivery cars are rare and most Minis found on American soil are European version often produced after 1968. As such, this Mini represents a rare opportunity to acquire a left hand drive, external door hinge Mini that was actually delivered new to the US.

Without reserve