Not quite a classic: BMW Mini

All You Need to Know Ahead of MiniFest

Start your engines – but make sure they’re small ones – because MiniFest is rolling into the island this weekend as part of the ever-growing Isle of Man Festival of Motoring. It’s the first time the festival has dedicated a whole event to one of the most iconic little cars on the planet. From classic Coopers to sporty modern builds, Minis of all shapes and sizes have already started appearing in car parks, on ferries and all over Manx social med…

Not quite a classic: BMW Mini

Now is finally the time to pull the trigger on the first generation of BMW Mini R50. Y-reg. Preferably with a plate ending in ‘OBL’. Eh? To decode, the R50 is the codename of the original BMW Mini, co-developed with Rover.  Y-reg is a car from 2001. And if its registration number ends with ‘OBL’, then it was very likely owned by BMW and used as a demonstrator, a press car or a promotional vehicle.  In classic car collecting circles that gives it…