6 photos

1989' MINI Classic

£30,000

Published 11 July 2026ID: AYiKX2

Warwickshire
+44Show phone

Information from the owner

Age: 37 years

Displacement: 1300 cc

Transmission: Manual

Exterior color: Red

Seller's comments about 1989' MINI Classic

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the BRDC Classic 2026 - Collectors' Cars on Saturday the 25th of July, The Wing, Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN. There are modified cars, there are specials and then there are creations like the Yama Moke; projects conceived not to meet a budget or a deadline, but simply to answer the question, 'What if?'The inspiration behind this remarkable machine dates back to the early 2000s, when its owner decided that rather than entrusting ambitious projects to outside specialists, he should establish his own engineering workshop. Finding the right man to lead it proved the crucial decision, introducing him to Roger Constable, a former Lotus prototype engineer whose experience embodied the celebrated Lotus philosophy of turning ambitious concepts into beautifully engineered reality.Over the next two decades, Roger became responsible for an extraordinary range of bespoke engineering projects, from concours-quality restorations of a Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder to power steering conversions for a Lamborghini Countach, Ford RS200 and De Tomaso Pantera, along with a host of unique one-off commissions. His engineering ability became widely recognised, perhaps most notably when his painstaking re-creation of the legendary Lamborghini Jota was invited by the factory itself to be displayed during Lamborghini Day in Italy; a remarkable endorsement of the quality of his craftsmanship.The Yama Moke became one of the workshop's most ambitious undertakings. Purchased in 2003, the donor was an exceptionally low-mileage Portuguese-built Mini Moke, originally intended to become the ultimate Caribbean runabout. As often happens with engineering perfectionists, other commissions continually took priority and the project evolved over more than twenty years, finally reaching completion only last year. Since then it has covered just a few hundred miles, leaving it effectively brand-new.Beneath its unmistakable Moke bodywork lies an entirely different animal. The original 848cc A-Series engine and gearbox, producing around 48bhp, were replaced with Yamaha's acclaimed 1, 298cc FJR1300 powerplant, developing an exhilarating 148bhp and driving through its five-speed sequential gearbox. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a Quaife reverse transfer box which, theoretically at least, provides five reverse gears as well as five forward ratios.The chassis has been engineered to match the dramatic increase in performance. Disc brakes feature at all four corners, the front suspension adopts an elegant fabricated A-frame design and the rear incorporates a Ford Sierra Cosworth assembly complete with a viscous limited-slip differential. The result is a remarkably sophisticated chassis wrapped beneath one of Britain's most recognisable silhouettes.Visually, the Yama Moke is every bit as distinctive as its engineering. Finished in spectacular MicaMoss 2, a richly metallic green, it is complemented by a black flocked dashboard, removable black suede-rimmed steering wheel, black chequer-plate floors and sill tops, staggered Minilite-style alloy wheels finished in dark red and matching red roll cage, bumper bars, hood and seat cushions. The heavier-gauge roll cage and bumper bars not only create a more purposeful appearance but also provide secure mountings for the bespoke four-point harnesses. LED running lights, bespoke rear lamps, a lockable boot and discreet Yama Moke badging complete a build in which virtually every component has been thoughtfully designed or re-engineered.With a build cost comfortably exceeding £100, 000 and only a handful of shakedown miles since completion, this extraordinary creation represents an uncompromising exercise in engineering ingenuity. Whether destined for concours lawns, specialist collections or simply to astonish wherever it appears, the Yama Moke is a wonderfully eccentric celebration of British engineering imagination and craftsmanship, offering a driving experience quite unlike anything else on four wheels.