Ok , time to test the brain power of those in the know , SERIOUSLY though . All the posts lately about insurance and values etc has had me wondering , what would the sports850 be worth ? Especially due to the fact that as far as I know there are only 5 "genuine" ones left . Mine is deifinitely genuine as I have it's full history and books and the signatures in the service book have been identified by someone who worked at P and R Williams at the time ( he was also quite likely the apprentice at the time who converted it from a standard 850 , the apprentices got the simple job of changing the bits ......) , It is unrestored though one guard has had a respray at some stage in it's life due to a dint , that paint is dodgy but the rest is fair to good considering it's age . The interior is missing the original front seats and the front rubber mat but everything else is there and good except for a tear on the rear seat front . The 850 motor in it at present isn't the original byut I have the original block (previous owner had an 1100 fitted , still with 850 brakes , but kept the original block for a future resto that he didn't do) . Anyway , here's some pics , last I had it on club plates about 7 years ago it was insured for $5,000 , but at that stage nobody seemed to know what a sports850 was . I know it's not mint but it's nearly original and is unrestored and genuine .

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I have no eye deer

However, purely on the rareness factor you would have to say over 5K....and I think you could easily ask for and expect up to 10 (say??).

Ian, I think it would get down to you and the person who really wants to own a Mini icon.....and how deep their pockets are and how much you would need to part with it....

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"Show me the Mini!"

Definitely no need , want or desire to part with it but wanting to put it back onto club plates and want a realistic value for the insurance . I was thinking at least $7G going on it's rareness and available history but not sure .

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Hmmmmmmmmmmm

So.....

somehow you lose a rare Mini like this and any amount of money is gunna make up for it ....I think not

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"Show me the Mini!"

Not really , but don't want to insure it for an amount that if it was damaged it would be uneconomical to repair if you know what I mean . I intend to have wreck retention so in case it is crashed and I get it back I have sufficient funds to go towards a total resto , not just a patch up . I know it's like asking how long is a piece of string ....

Ok , I'll try that again , how often have you heard of people crashing a mini and being told it's only an 850/deluxe/K whatever , you'll find a similar quality one for the insurance money anyway so it's written off . I want sufficient insurance that if it happens it won't be written off unless it is seriously written off and not just another damaged mini .

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Chris Zerial would have a fairly good idea. He was with Shannons till last year and came to be regarded as their mini expert.

But looking at the wide variances in both insured values and policy costs its hard to know. My mini clubman S (1310 with discs) is $7k and costs $204. But I live in the country, no accidents and I am on the sunrise side of 60. I have undertaken that the mini be used for less than 8,000 km a year.

I would go for $10k or more - it is virtually irreplacable.

Closer to 10k rather than 5K. if you were to loose your 850 you have to think of how much time and effort would be involved in replacing it with another mini . they are getting harder to find all the time . I looked for over 12 months before i found my van and i am sure this is often the case with many mini owners. with the historic value of your mini in some ways it is priceless. keep this in mind when insuring it and dont under value it

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FOUR DOORS........TWO SEATS...???

Thank's Mike , I'll have a chat to Chris when he get's back from Poeee's bash , it's a hard one to pin because while it's in fair to good condition (as far as other collectors cars go) it is very rare and genuine .

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My mini is only fair to good condition as well so don't let that worry you.

Shannons actually inspected it for a quote during a Wings Wheels and Wine thing here in Mudgee and they have regional officers in most places as well as attending as many of the show and shine things as they can.

If your not in a hurry, they will eventually be in your area and will visit and quote.

Yep, I hear ya talking ....so you have to convince the insurance company of the rarity of this particular Mini by taking TME and some period motor magazine articles etc along and arguing your case. Good Luck

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"Show me the Mini!"

I'd say $10K+, for rareness value. Not as though it's common, like a Cooper S still is....

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I'd think given the fact that the sports850 badge that sold on ebay a while back went for something like $650 alone would make your genuine article worth upwards of 10K, probably similar money to a Cooper 'S' in similar condition.

My 3 850's are all insured for well over 10g Dorothy Morris 850 restored, Austin Super deluxe 850 very rare even in UK which is un restored but original and the Morris traveller built 2 months after preduction 3rd oldest on record currently off the road.

8-10 would be reasonable as its not totally original, tidy and off the road.

Shannons are exceptional

Steve

I dont think you'll have a problem verifying the rarity with Shannons.... they're pretty switched on these days. And you have all the info they would need to make an assessment, Ian ! Suggest looking at the 3 worst scenarios..... big prang ( write off! ), fire( burnt out) and theft ( not recovered). The first two you would want to allow for a very good restorer to fix it up...... not just the local bog-up panel shop. For theft you'd want enough to buy something equally rare... good S maybe. For these reasons I'd reckon 15k minimum. 10k wouldn't buy you much.

( keepin' an eye ot for that green upholstery, too !! )

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62 Saxon Green 850
Clubby van

Thank's guy's some food for thought there , not going to be sorting out club rego for a few months (and need to get the Nota Fang rolling so I can get the sports850 out of the garage) so plenty of time for more research . My thoughts (didn't want to pre-empt any prices here so only mentioned $7G) were originally around the $10G mark but wasn't sure if that was asking a bit much , but then again 850's prices have been increasing of late as well . I'll have a chat to a few people , Chris in particular and also see if I can get info from a couple of sports850's I know of to see their values .
Thank's Alan , something should turn up somewhere one day ....

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