Opulently priced from a one feedback seller in Italy:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/253391890323?rmvSB=true

How must did these cost when new?

How often do they pop up for sale nowadays?

:

This thread has some good links:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nued-rare.html


I think the leather looks great,
but mighty pricey.

The one on eBay looks to be a handmade by competent leathersmith. Very well stitched. I wonder if is the same guy that modify the standard R53.2 MFSW into sculpted ones with Alcantara for a few hundred Euros. It is very possible a leathersmith used to hand made Gucci until China took over.

I am not too crazy with embellishments muddling with few exceptions. You can spend crazy money on similar dash option with Porsche.

And then this is a kind of nice with the fragrance to go with it too.



There is a video on Youtube on the Porsche 911 production and there is a segment where they show the examination of leather with CAM, as well as adding the fancy covered dash by expensive German skilled technicians.

My Mini is too down to earth for these frivolous embellishments.

The dash looks factory to me as there appears to be the JCW embossing which would be a hassle to replicate, but you're right, the seller should have better and more detailed photos of the one he is offering --- I think at least one of the photos may have been cribbed from here on NAM?

As far as frivolous embellishments, I don't have a MINI yet but have some plans for juicing it up to my personal spec which does include some questionable-to-some embellishments, but truth is where you find it and it is within ourselves.
Each of our.

And yep,
Porsche knows how to milk the multidollar options and has it down to a science. I think it's cool that if you want you may get one that is pretty much bespoke as long as you have the funds. They understand their patrons and offer a wide variety of enticing choices.

I'm not able to afford a P-car and I'd have to stretch myself mighty thin if I tried, and it'd likely be the low-hanging fruit like an SC Targa because the price threshold is somewhat lower, but even that is like dreaming.

So in reality I just want to be happy with a little buzzbox R53 and embellish it up the guts with small touches which bring me personal joy.


I read an interesting article the other day, very well written,
about a guy who got himself an '84 Carrera and fully utilized it as a positive life-affirming instrument.
Good stuff.
https://petrolicious.com/articles/he...epic-road-trip

I didn't see the original JCW on the seller's title until recheck. They are genuine JCW. I didn't know that was done at one time. But seriously, with a used R53 value today who will spend $800 on a cowhide layer on the dash. My remark of frivolous is tongue on cheek and my view on altering my Mini. Form follows function and with economy, and the spirit of the classic mini coopers in mind.

I have the classic Mini in mind also as I plan on some retro details which may not be everyones cuppa tea,
and I am so such inspired by not only factory "works" options, but privateer options as well...



The classic Cooper might probably be the most frequently modd'd model in the history of the British tuning scene, and I think it's great that the modern MINI continues in those same footsteps...





...although yes there are many positives to a bone-stock "unmolested" car,
I have a preference for tasteful non-factory upgrades also when done correctly.

As for value regarding expensive original factory part options that are now NLA yet still pricey, in contrast to the R53's somewhat low current market worth, I understand your point and yes it makes logical sense and displays financial acumen not to buy such things...

...but in my experience with the old Saab 900 of the 80's, I learned that it is always wise to buy the factory stuff whenever presented opportunity because it only becomes rarer and scarcer as time goes on, as well as more expensive in some cases.

The decision must be weighed by the owner. In some cases the factory part may be unmatched by the aftermarket, such as the case with the leather dash I think as I haven't seen an aftermarket version as well made as the factory version, but in other cases the opposite may be true.

I think that the R53 is a bonafide modern classic and as time goes by the market will reflect this as natural attrition thins the number of available good specimens. It is already very hard to find a non-sunroof example and I've been having a frustrating would-be-buyer's experience, and in fact I've still been glancing at old Saab ads over at Saabnet classifieds just in case something wonderful popped up as I'd get another if it was in good shape, but increasingly I've seen the prices climbing for well-preserved cars and I'd like to have a modern MINI anyway as I've lived with 80's Saabs for the last 25+ years.

A 147k miles 1988 SPG with an asking price of $21,995?!?!?
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...-haul-it-home/

I think it's rather insane, but I've seen similar cars command nearly that same threshold in the last couple of years.

In the end, I think that value is simply what you make it, and many of us make our cars invaluable.

Market value is something else entirely outside of that.

Just going to show you those links, been NLA for some time. The RED color was a US thing. We never got the other colors. IN other countries you could order the gray, or pick from a couple other colors, made to order. Lots of that good stuff is long gone.

Thats my R52 with the leather downtubes that I have. Now NLA also.

Many many thanks for the additional info!
Didn't know those details.


Those leather downtubes are orgasmic to the max!

Love 'em!

Sadly I'm late to the game --- if I woulda been more hip and got the MINI fever sooner I could have been around to order this stuff fresh off the shelf.

Welcome, and thanks. When it comes to rare MINI options I know too much.

I really like the leather dash, but it's just a tad outta my price range

It will only fit on July 2004 or later builds

Mine was made October 7th, 2003.....so now I don't have to really sweat getting it...not that i was going to anyway