Could Cilla’s Mini be your perfect match?

| 16 Jul 2019
Classic & Sports Car - Cars of the stars step back into the limelight – and under the hammer

Provenance is important when buying a classic car, right? In which case, one of the lots at Classic Car Auctions’ sale on 3 August might be right up your street.

A 1977 Mini 1000 Wood & Pickett once owned by pop singer and TV star Cilla Black, it could give someone a lorra lorra laughs in the Mini’s 60th-anniversary year.

Bought by her husband, Bobby Willis, this now 41,800-mile Mini was with the couple from new and has since been restored, retaining all its original features.

Classic & Sports Car - Cars of the stars step back into the limelight – and under the hammer

And that’s not all – because the Mini is also being sold with an invitation to September’s Goodwood Revival for the Mini’s birthday celebrations, where it will appear alongside The Beatles’ Mini Coopers; entry and tickets are both included. It goes to auction with an estimate of £24-28,000.

“The owner, who is a collector of very selective classic cars, told us that Bobby bought this as a gift for Cilla and the numberplate is original to the car,” said Nick Bicknell, classic car specialist for CCA.

“It has had four previous keepers, but is a great car with proven ownership to one of the UK’s best-loved entertainers.”

Classic & Sports Car - Cars of the stars step back into the limelight – and under the hammer

Cilla’s Mini is far from the only interesting car in CCA’s August sale, though – as this ’82 Range Rover proves.

A faithful reproduction of the car driven by Roger Moore towing a horse box in the James Bond film Octopussy, it was commissioned by a committed 007 enthusiast and was sourced, converted and restored by respected specialists Bishop’s Heritage. 

And if it looks familar, that’ll be because another example starred in the April 2018 issue of Classic & Sports Car.

This one is offered for sale in apparently very good condition, having been the subject of a nut and bolt restoration plus a complete mechanical overhaul. Its pre-sale guide price? £60-70,000.

“We have really got some cracking lots for our auction,” added Gary Dunne, CCA’s auction manager. “Again we have been chosen to auction some very significant cars from the world of entertainment and they will certainly have loads of interest.”

Both these great British classics with something special to offer will cross the block at CCA’s sale on 3 August at the Warwickshire Event Centre – get full details here.


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