Thinking of buying a new MINI? You should get this instead.

A 1968 Mk1 Morris Minor-Mini Super De Luxe with just 271 miles from new – and still with its plastic seat covers – is up for sale. The last ‘new’ Mini Mk1?

The Mini/MINI turned 60 years old last month and, although the current MINI bears little resemblance to the original 1959 Mini, it continues to beguile buyers with its individuality and links to the original Alec Issigonis Mini.

With that anniversary in mind, you might be tempted to splash out on MINI’s own celebration of its birthday – the MINI 60 Years Edition – but there is a better option – a ‘new’ 1968 Mk1 Morris Minor-Mini Super De Luxe.

Classic car specialists Woodham Mortimer, just up the road from Cars UK Towers, has what must be the most original Mk1 Mini in existence, and it’s up for sale.

Built in 1967 and sold to a Mrs Jones in 1968 as she decided the time had come to learn to drive, it turned out that Mrs Jones’ aptitude for driving was not quite what she’d hoped, and the Mini, with just 271 miles on the clock, was stuck in a garage for almost 50 years until it was auctioned off by her family a few years ago.

Now it’s up for grabs, resplendent in original Old English White with a typical red interior – with the original plastic covers on the seats still – this Mini is a proper time warp car, delivering a Mini that’s just as it was when it was new.

Jean Marc Gales from Woodham Mortimer said:

This is a truly unique example of the iconic Mini and it is a privilege for Woodham Mortimer to offer it for sale. The car offers the unrepeatable opportunity to own what must be the world’s most original example of Britain’s most-loved classic car.

So go on, forget buying a new MINI and buy this ‘new’ Mini instead.