1998 Rover MINI 1.3L Petrol · J27 MAJ

The 1998 Rover Mini presents as roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 1 April 2026 at 24,818 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded, following clean passes at 24,017 miles on 7 April 2025 and 23,798 miles on 18 May 2023. The vehicle shows no advisories or failures across the available record, indicating consistent compliance with statutory roadworthiness standards over the past three years. Recorded mileage sits at 24,818 against an age of roughly 28 years, equating to about 886 miles per year. The tester logged only 801 miles between May 2023 and April 2025, then 1 mile between April 2025 and April 2026. Such low annual use suggests extended standing periods rather than active daily driving. The DVSA history contains no gaps longer than the 2023-to-2025 window and no rapid accumulation, though the sparse three-entry record limits insight into pre-2023 condition. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of structural integrity and corrosion, as the Mini's age makes sills, subframes, and floorpan vulnerable even when MOTs stay clean. Suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake discs warrant hands-on checks for perishing from inactivity. The absence of flagged faults means no recurring mechanical trend exists, but standing storage often hides binding calipers or flat-spotted tyres unseen in a pass result. Given the clean test lineage and minimal mileage, previous owners likely kept the car as a light-use retained example rather than a neglected runner. Verify underside rust treatment and confirm brake freedom during a road trial before purchase.