Historically speaking- what version of the Mini will be the most valuable ?

Comparing any current automobile selling for less than 100 grand to the great collector cars from the 60s and early 70s is pretty hard to do.

Consider that the 67 Corvette with it's L88 motor option and the 69 Corvette with it's ZL1 Aluminum engine option, both nearly doubled the price of the car, $6,000.00 for the JCW kit installed seems like a bargain and the sales show this.

67 L88 Corvette production: 20
69 ZL1 Corvette production: 2

While I don't know the actual number of JCW Mini s being built, I think I'd be safe in say it's more than 22 a month.

Then take into consideration the way the world has changed in the last 35 years and as much as we love the Mini, will there be as strong a following for the Mini as there has been for the Corvette for so many years?

We can hope there is, but look how few cars have been able to withstand the test of time.

As for the basic question?

It'll have to be a fully loaded JCW equipped Convertible in a popular but low volumn color combo.

Let's face it, discontinued green may have been low production, but along with the fact that few people wanted that color today, even fewer will want to pay big bucks 20 years from now when there's a red one available for the same price.

As for me, I bought my Mini to drive and enjoy.

I have 181,000 miles on the Corvette. It's in beautiful condition, but as soon as any interested buyers have seen the mileage, they start backing up. I paid $556.00 a month for 5 years when I bought it and I can say I got my moneys worth out of that Corvette.

I can only hope I can do the same with my MCS

Ahh, the age old question -

As all of the colors that were discontinued except Indi Blue were claimed due to lack of popularity, I think color isn't a big issue. Besides, Color isn't a huge deciding factor anyway.

JCW will be worth more because they cost more. The question if they'll be worth gobs more is difficult, they're not exactly rare, you can check the JCW # registry thread and see that at a glance.

There's bound to be some appeal for the 2002 original model in the US, but that's balanced with the constant pursuit of the most powerful/most rare...

MC40 MCS in theory would be worth something extra, but as they're selling at a discount now, they're clearly not popular now.

Least miles, of course - people always like low milage cars.

MC? I can't really see why an MC would become the collectible, unless something changes - perhaps if everyone's driving CVT's in 30 years, it will be known as one of the first cars to offer one.

Aftermarket mods aren't appreciated by collectors. I'd say any of them will be worth less - that's part of the reason JCW costs so much and any other option (including Dinan's warranteed one) costs a fair amount less, OEM/official stuff is a premium.

Original Minis, in the US will become more valuable, just look at how the new Beetles have made the old ones worth more, interest sparks demand. Classic Minis are already worth more due to the interest from MINIs.

Rarest combo of options? I don't see that as a big deal - except if something suddenly becomes rare, for instance, if the anthracite headliner wasn't returned, and it only existed for the 2 months you could order it. Besides that, most options aren't rare, they're just unpopular - most people don't order PDC because they don't think its worth it, I highly doubt someone in 40 years will want it, but you never know. Most likely it will be a novelty as old gadgets tend to be, but not that coveted option.

Finally - its gambling to determine what will be the best, especially until production stops, because as you say, the next model could always be better, so just enjoy the one you have, and let the miles roll by.

There was an article in the papers on this subject back in September ...

(click for bigger pic)

Here are a few other factors that could effect the future collectabilty of the MINI and some of today's cars:

The long, long term reliability and ease of keeping in running condition. What if all the electronics packed into the MINI make it hard for the shade tree mechanic to keep it running. We are willing to send our new $20,000 - $27,000 MINI to the BMW dealer while it is under warranty for every electronic glitch. Will people spend hundreds of dollars on thier 8 year old, high mileage MINI that is only worth a few thousand dollars, just to fix a DSC or to re-program the CVT?

How MINI's are percieved and their overall image in the future. If the success of the MINI fades and joins the PT and the New Beetle as passe, then that could hurt the value.

What kind of technology will come along that will make all cars as fun to drive as a new MINI? Right now the handling is MINI's big selling point. Today, a minivan can handle better than many sports cars from 40 years ago.

Another factor could be alternative fuel. The next 30 years could see major changes in the use and accessability of gasoline/petrol. This could make it hard for any of us to enjoy our old gas hogs! Will people pay big dollars for vehicles they cant drive and enjoy?

Willy said:

Here are a few other factors that could effect the future collectabilty of the MINI and some of today's cars:

The long, long term reliability and ease of keeping in running condition. What if all the electronics packed into the MINI make it hard for the shade tree mechanic to keep it running. We are willing to send our new $20,000 - $27,000 MINI to the BMW dealer while it is under warranty for every electronic glitch. Will people spend hundreds of dollars on thier 8 year old, high mileage MINI that is only worth a few thousand dollars, just to fix a DSC or to re-program the CVT?

How MINI's are percieved and their overall image in the future. If the success of the MINI fades and joins the PT and the New Beetle as passe, then that could hurt the value.

What kind of technology will come along that will make all cars as fun to drive as a new MINI? Right now the handling is MINI's big selling point. Today, a minivan can handle better than many sports cars from 40 years ago.

Another factor could be alternative fuel. The next 30 years could see major changes in the use and accessability of gasoline/petrol. This could make it hard for any of us to enjoy our old gas hogs! Will people pay big dollars for vehicles they cant drive and enjoy?

Click to expand...

You make some good points. But, as the Mini gets older and the majoriety of them get driven into the ground, then the low mileage survivors that remain will start to gain value.

As for the Mini apeal fading like the PT Cruiser and Beetle affecting the value, in the end, this will help the value of those low mileage Minis that survive.

As for people paying big bucks for cars they can't afford to drive, just look at the Dussenbergs and Rolls sitting in museums. They're there because no one would dare drive a 1 of a kind irreplaceable piece of history.

We see hundreds of replica Cobras being driven on the street. But have you ever seen a real originall 67 Cobra being driven on public streets?

I've seen the 1 yellow 69 ZL1 Corvette running three times in the last 6 or 7 years. Each time it was trucks to a location where a club picture was being taken. It was fired up, driven to it's position and after the picture, driven back on the truck.

Expensive Collectors cars are great to look at, but if you're going to enjoy it, you've got to drive it.