Mini to be auctioned for charity

Silverstone Auctions will be offering a special ‘life saving’ Mini for sale at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at Birmingham NEC on 12 November to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

Known as ‘Margo’ following a naming competition, the 1969 Morris Mini Super Deluxe was found by Lancaster Insurance in 2015 and has been carefully restored by the MG Owners’ Club Workshop since her first public appearance in November 2015 in her unrestored state.

A dedicated webpage (www.findminiahome.com) has been created and members of the public have been able to donate to Prostate Cancer UK by selecting a part of Margo, such as wheel nuts and door hinges, each with a different value. Through JustGiving, the specific amount is then donated straight to the charity.  

Prior to her fundraising career, Margo was bought new by her first owner, Mrs Millie Properjohns, in 1969 and kept in Dartford. Millie drove her beloved Super Deluxe until she was 98 years old with the local shops being her main destination with the odd trip across Sussex and Kent to collect her grandchildren for holidays.

Millie moved to Steyning in the early 1980s, and continued to use the car regularly around the area until she took the decision to stop driving simply because she worried that if she was involved in any form of accident she would automatically be blamed because of her age. Margo was eventually inherited by Mrs Properjohns’ daughter, Joan, when Millie passed away at the fine age of 100 years and six weeks, who stored the car in a garage in 2004. 

Now returned to her original condition in gleaming Tartan Red, the campaign will reach its climax when Margo tempts bidders at auction when offered without reserve as part of Silverstone Auctions’ catalogue at its Classic Motor Show Sale at the NEC.

'We’re delighted to be part of Margo’s journey and to be supporting Prostate Cancer UK at one of our biggest auctions of the year', comments Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. 'Margo has built up quite a following over the year and with no reserve at auction we expect plenty of bidders hoping to re-home her and support this very good cause at the same time, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to charity.'

Already in exceptional, well looked after condition, the restoration works included a full, engine out strip down, bare metal respray, refurbishment of the original carpets, replacement of both A panels, cleaning and replacement of interior, engine and brakes service and road wheels refurbishment.

Richard Morley, operations director at Lancaster Insurance comments 'One family from new, low mileage classics make excellent auction cars, and everybody loves a British Mini. We are delighted to be supporting Prostate Cancer UK with this initiative, whilst at the same time bringing a classic car back to its absolute prime. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with 47,000 men diagnosed every year in the UK. We hope to make as much money as possible for the charity, whilst also raising awareness of prostate cancer within the classic car community.'

To find out more about Margo and Mini and Silverstone Auctions’ Classic Motor Show sale please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/morris-mini-super-deluxe.