This 1998 Rover Mini Mayfair 1.3i was originally sold new in Japan. In 2021, a previous owner imported the car to the United Kingdom. The current seller purchased the vehicle in December 2024 and subsequently imported it to the United States in July 2025.
Powered by a 1,275cc inline-four engine coupled with a four-speed manual transaxle, this classic Mini is finished in Tahiti Blue with a white roof. The interior features Stone Beige vinyl upholstery with Balmoral check-pattern cloth inserts, combining vintage style with comfort.
**Exterior and Equipment**
The car comes equipped with Revolution 12″ alloy wheels, front disc brakes, and Hi-Lo suspension mounts. Additional modifications include a Team Turtle air intake, RC40 exhaust, wheel-arch extensions, and driving lights. Other notable features are air conditioning, a wood dashboard, a Moto-Lita steering wheel, a digital stereo system, and red carpeting.
Finished from the factory in Tahiti Blue (JRJ), the vehicle was repainted in the same color with a white roof during early 2020s ownership. The body is highlighted by body-color wheel-arch flares, white hood stripes, bright-bezel round headlights, a bright horizontal grille, Wipac driving lights, door-mounted chrome dual side mirrors, pop-out rear-quarter windows, a rear fog light, and chrome bumpers.
The seller notes minor imperfections, including a blemish above the passenger-side “Japan” fender badge and paint wear along the lower body edges, where undercoating affected the finish. These and other details are documented in the accompanying photo gallery.
**Wheels and Brakes**
The Revolution 12×6″ alloy wheels are fitted with Dunlop Le Mans Bb490 tires sized 165/60. The wheels were powdercoated, and the lug nuts replaced in December 2024. The adapted Hi-Lo suspension mounts enhance handling, while braking is handled by power-assisted front discs and rear drums.
**Interior**
Inside, the right-hand-drive cabin presents front bucket seats and a rear bench, all upholstered in Stone Beige vinyl with Balmoral check-pattern cloth inserts. The interior appointments include a wood dashboard, air conditioning, an SX-5513 digital stereo, Pioneer parcel-shelf speakers, red carpeting, brushed-aluminum shifter and handbrake knobs, an aluminum throttle pedal, and three-point seatbelts front and rear.
Under current ownership, a corroded section of the passenger-side floor pan was repaired with a welded patch panel. Sound-deadening material has been added to the spare-wheel well and inside the trunk lid. The dashboard veneer exhibits cracks, and there are cuts in the lower sections of the passenger seat and side carpeting, as noted by the seller.
The leather-wrapped Moto-Lita steering wheel fronts a 180 km/h speedometer, an 8,000 rpm tachometer, and a combination gauge displaying coolant temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer reads 57,000 kilometers (~36,000 miles), approximately 1,500 kilometers of which were added by the current owner.
**Mechanical Details**
The 1,275cc inline-four engine was factory equipped with single-point fuel injection, rated at 62 horsepower and 70 lb-ft of torque. A Team Turtle air intake was installed prior to current ownership.
Maintenance under current ownership includes replacement of the auxiliary-belt tensioner, and servicing of the air conditioning, which was de-gassed and recharged in March 2025. Compression readings are available in the photo gallery.
Power is delivered to the front wheels through the four-speed manual transaxle. A Borg & Beck clutch kit was installed in March 2025, and the downpipe on the RC40 exhaust system was replaced in April 2025.
**Vehicle Identification**
The VIN sequence and chassis tag identify the vehicle as follows:
– Manufacturer code: SAX MG-Rover
– Model: XN Mini 1300
– Class: W HLS, Mayfair
– Body type: A Two-door sedan
– Engine: Y 1.3-liter with single-point fuel injection (SPi), 10.1:1 compression
– Drive: C Right-hand drive, manual transmission
This right-hand-drive Mk VII Mini is offered at no reserve and comes with service records from the current ownership, copies of importation documents, tire-changing tools, and a Massachusetts title in the seller’s name.
For enthusiasts seeking a well-maintained classic Mini with documented history and tasteful upgrades, this 1998 Rover Mini Mayfair 1.3i represents an excellent opportunity.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-rover-mini-10/
