With just FIVE miles on the clock and one very careful owner, meet Alec the Mini
CLASSIC CAR IS NAMED AFTER FAMOUS DESIGNER
A DERBYSHIRE woman has put her very rare classic Mini on display at the county’s vintage car museum.
Jennifer Ruth Harris is the proud owner of one of the last 500 classic Minis ever produced in 2001.
Her Rover Mini Cooper Sport 500 can now be viewed by motoring enthusiasts visiting The Great British Car Journey.
Named after the Mini’s legendary designer Sir Alec Issigonis, “Alec” sits alongside more than 140 other classic British motors in the Ambergate showroom.
It is unregistered, has less than five miles on the clock and still has all its factory plastic coverings and stickers on its windows. In fact, the majority of Alec’s miles were put on the clock at Great British Car Journey where Jennifer drove the car for the first time – 21 years to the day since she bought it.
The Mini has been perfectly preserved since rolling off the transporter from the Mini factory and into Jennifer’s parents’ garage 21 years ago.
Alec now has pride of place among the 10-strong classic Mini collection in the showroom, which fills the former Richard Johnson & Nephew Wire Works site by the banks of the River Derwent.
The protective plastic still remains on all the bumpers, petrol cap and seats, and the factory stickers have also been left on the windows.
However, the protective transportation wax coating, which still remained when it arrived at the museum, has since been removed from the anthracite paintwork and polished by a specialist.
Originally bought to replace “Enzo” – an almond green Mini with a white roof and named after Issigonis’s best friend Enzo Ferrari – Jennifer always expected to put Alec on the road, but never did.
When the time came, she decided to rebuild Enzo and keep her old car running.
Explaining why she has hardly ever driven Alec, Jennifer said: “Seeing Alec polished does make me want to drive him, but I don’t think I will put him on the road. He’s too precious.
“It was during a visit to the Great British Car Journey last November that we considered it might become Alec’s new home. Not only can everyone else enjoy Alec, but I can pop along and see him whenever I want to.”
Alec will now remain at the museum until there ever comes a time in which Jennifer wants to put the car on the road, which is highly unlikely, according to Great British Car Journey bosses.
Richard Usher, chief executive of the Great British Car Journey, said: “To say we were excited when we saw Alec is an understatement. He is incredibly rare and absolute perfection. We are honoured that Jennifer has chosen Great British Car Journey for its new home.”
A museum spokeswoman added: “Jennifer doesn’t think she will ever drive Alec, who was stored in her parents’ garage when she bought it new and remained there until her parents’ house was sold.
“She needed somewhere to store Alec, and after visiting the Great British Car Journey she thought it would be the perfect place for him.
“Richard has told her she should drive Alec around the GBCJ site, but she is even reluctant to do that.”
In other motoring news, Erewash Museum in Ilkeston is hosting a transport week.
Tomorrow, the Great British Car Journey will be travelling to the museum to showcase a variety of classic cars from the past 100 years in the museum’s car park. While on Thursday and Friday, model railway exhibitions will be on display outside the Hayloft.