You’d think that a rusty 1959 Mini would sell for less—a lot less– than a classic 1950 Pontiac convertible once owned by Keith Richards. As it happens, you’d be wrong. Earlier today at a Bonhams auction at the RAF Museum in Hendon, England, the oldest surviving original example of a Austin Mini De Luxe Saloon in non-running “barn find” condition sold for $65,382, eclipsing the $61,604 paid for a dark blue Pontiac Chieftan Silver Streak in which Richards tooled about in the south of France.U.S. buyers were the successful bidders on both cars. The Mini, which sold for more than double its $24,349 high estimate, was the eighth example to come off the Austin production line in May, 1959. Only three earlier examples of the car exist, according to Bonhams, and all have been restored or altered. This one shows just 30,041 miles on its odometer.
