News : ‘Longbridge tunnel’ Mini sells for £1400

Keith Adams

Longbridge Mini (4)
Longbridge Mini sells for £1400 at Silverstone

Despite much in the way of pre-sale hype, it looks like the Mini Clubman so famously rescued from the Longbridge tunnels in 2012 fell short of impressing at auction. The ‘Longbridge tunnel’ Mini sold for £1400 (£1610 after premiums) at the sale by Silverstone Auctions at today’s Classic.

The car, which has been described as being the final ‘new’ example of its type to leave the factory, was sold at no reserve and, although it had an interesting history,  buyers, clearly didn’t feel that this was enough to enter into a bidding war over. The car had been standing in dank water and away from sunlight for at least 30 years and was a time-capsule reminder that beneath the factory is an intricate network of passages that saw so much action. They served to protect the factory workers from German bombers during WW2 and ended up becoming something of a storage-cum-hiding area in more recent years.

The car was rescued from the tunnels in November 2012 and its owner, Steve Morgan, vowed to restore the car to its former glory. We’ll need to wait and see what its new owner decides to do with this curio.

Keith Adams
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14 Comments

  1. I bet the seller is disappointed at that price but credit to the person that bought it as they are going to if they rebuild it spend thousands and take hundreds of hours to get that on the road but it will be nice to see it restored i wonder what it would be worth when done

  2. Spooky I was only discussing this with a fellow FIRM enthusiast earlier on today, wasn’t Gemma Cartwright going to get some investors together and stick it in a museum on the Longbridge Site?

    Pick the holes in that plan….

  3. Brilliant, but tbf that’s what you would expect from BMW.

    This latest design study demonstrates that even though there may be no british design influence witihn the team, they are not afraid to make bold statements.

    A car with no windows, doors or wheels. Genius, this has to beat the Prius in terms in carbon footprint.

  4. From day one i always said it was never about the money more about the story i had a wicked day out at silverstone i an glad it went to a good home and i am glad i saved it in the first place
    Steve morgan

  5. A Bargain for the new owner,he knows its story and provenance – you cant put a price on that.

    Given that ’95MY car are selling for upwards of £6k how can this car loose value if and when built up into a road worthy vehicle? Not many Mini’s about with original parts or panels anyway.

  6. Fair play to you, Steve Morgan, for rescuing it in the first place.

    Hopefully the winning bidder will do either restore it to ‘as new’ factory condition, or keep it as-is as a work of art, a testament to the old UK car manufacturing industry.

    I like the idea of longbridge workers having a network of tunnels to play ‘the hidey’ in, possibly sleep off hangovers etc., so BL! 🙂

  7. Ive just looked at the picture from a different angle and it says 1275 gt on the decal at the bottom of the drivers door so would that make it more valuable ?

  8. @1, @2 and @12. In 2 minds about this vehicle. I don’t know if id like to see it remain, as is, in a museum or a restored working vehicle. Given the publicity and story I bet he is disappointed with the amount raised but maybe enthusiasts are not enamored with the story enough for it to be placed in a museum even if I think its interesting. If it is a 1275 you would think it to be more valuable wouldn’t you.
    @10 yes the new owner surely cant lose money on it, a bargain for the right person.

  9. I’m really pleased you rescued it, Steve. Personally, I think there are enough Mini Clubmans still in existence to justify leaving this one as it is, as an exhibit somewhere. It is uniquely special, and to “restore” it would be to take something away from it.

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