Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership finalists 2024

Not many people buy a classic car when they are twelve years old, but that’s just what this owner did. Inspired by her dad’s immaculately restored Austin 1800, she dreamt of having her very own concours car displayed at the NEC.

“I grew up around classics and it was my dad’s passion for them and his attention to detail while restoring his Austin that made me want my own” says Claire. “We couldn’t find a Mini in perfect condition, so that’s when we decided to build one instead.”

That’s exactly what they did, buying a genuine bodyshell and embarking on the build of a limited edition Jet Black model. It was the beginning of a project that would take three years of hard work, with every spare moment when Claire wasn’t at school spent on her beloved Mini.

She says that it was a very meticulous process, with countless hours taken up sourcing original parts, restoring those they already had and assembling them into a car that would be exactly to factory specification. In fact, we’d say this example is much better than anything that rolled off the production line almost forty years ago.

It really does look stunning and is a testament to all of the hard work, and once finished it was soon being displayed at shows across the country. Winning the prestigious Mini World Car of the Year award was well-deserved. Claire adds that a highlight of ownership, and fulfilment of a childhood dream, was competing in the Meguiar’s Club Showcase at the NEC back in 2012.

“It’s a great reminder of the time spent with my dad and all of the skills that I learnt, and as a professional mechanic now I’m still as passionate about classics as ever.”