Y the obsession? The most prolific BMW Mini collectors

Among the rethinks on the BMC Mini were the addition of drainage holes to the roof gutters(!), oval rather than rectangular cut-outs in the hubcaps, an extra locating peg for the chrome sliding window latches and a reversal in the way the toeboard overlapped the floor, which finally staunched the initially baffling water leaks into the cabin. Perversely, these and more add to a 1959-1960 Mini’s market value.

Among the very early BMW Minis, a handful have an indented rib running the length of the front seats’ backrests and cushions, a few more have clutch and brake pedal rubbers embossed with ‘Mini’ and larger numbers have heater air intake grilles whose grid pattern features larger octagons. The washer jets were redesigned, too. And a few tens of cars did without sound-deadening for the roof (which can’t be seen, obviously), although many more had a seat-recline handle and mechanism that was changed for a new version under warranty if it failed – which plenty did. So there’s more to hunt down than a Y-registration and the low VIN that comes with it.

There’s no shortage of hunters, either. Williams points out that of the estimated 700- odd Y-reg cars sold, 400 or so survive, yet the club’s Facebook page has more than 1000 members. More than there are cars to go around, demand therefore exceeding supply. Which is why the prices of these cars are rising (relatively) and why there’s now an almost frenzied clamour to buy the most sought-after varieties should they appear for sale. Especially if they’re cheap, the seller perhaps unaware of the car’s significance.

The rush to buy is now so strong that “it was January 2020 that I last bought one, after a bit of a fight”, says Williams. It was a trade-in, he explains, but having agreed a price over the phone, the dealer told him the following day that he had been offered more, so demanded extra, despite their verbal deal. Williams paid to secure it, but the incident left a bad taste. He has talked to another dealer selling a Y-reg Mini in which there “was more interest than I’ve seen in 30 years of trading”.

When Williams began collecting these cars, there was little or no premium. “Most were end-of-life trade-ins, so I took a trailer,” he says. They were bought for a few hundred pounds, and most came from dealers. “My entire collection has cost me about the price of the cheapest new car on sale,” he adds, surveying his Mini-shaped cache with mild amusement. This is the amusement of an enthusiast well aware of the absurdity of an overpopulated fleet whose acquisition has nevertheless produced considerable enjoyment. Williams’ wife seems happy with his indulgence too, her daily driver a 103,000- mile Y-reg Mini One. None of his cars are in perfect nick, but he’s working on that. “You find very little rust on them,” he says, “which is testament to BMW’s build quality. So is the fact that so many of the 700 survive.”

Part of the enjoyment stems from digging ever deeper into the history of these cars, as there are various subsets of Y-reg cars. A key moment came on 25 April 2001: the last day of official pre-production, when 49 cars of a 211 total were completed.

The following day was the first of regular production, when 12 cars emerged, BMW’s computer records yielding plenty of information for the keen spotter. As ever during the start of new-model manufacturing, some cars took much longer to make than others, which is why “the VINs are all over the place”, says Williams. “Some cars were two or three weeks in build, others were quick.” That’s why some cars with lower VINs than those produced on 25 April appeared on 26 April. On the impressively encyclopaedic miniyregister.co.uk, there’s a chart detailing the build date of every early Cooper and One.

Another category, and the best known, is Minis whose registration numbers end with OBL. These are especially prized, because they were registered by BMW’s press office as launch cars, many appearing on TV, online and in print. Of these, there were 135, and you can see how many have resurfaced so far on the Y-reg club’s website. The earliest known survivor is VIN 69, a blue Mini One. Red Coopers with white roofs are the most sought after. If it’s the low VIN number rather than a Y-registration that appeals to you, it’s well worth fishing among the 51-plate cars, as plenty of very early cars were held over for that new plate.

So what does Williams plan to do with his 20 Minis? “I had no idea I would end up buying this many with early chassis numbers. I’ve got to try to end up with the best,” he says, with less than convincing resolve. His garage can hold nine and a friend will store more. “I’ve sold some with high chassis numbers,” he notes.

But most important for Williams is the interest this “very entertaining” crevice of car obsession has provided. So what next? He isn’t sure, although he does mention the rarity of the very earliest L322 Range Rovers from 2001 with Rosewood interior trim. “It’s very hard to find one of those in decent condition,” he says…