Mini Advantage - May 1987

Another 2,175 Mini Advantage's were sold in export markets - 1,975 cars went to France, Germany, Belguim and Holland. The French launch on May 25, 1987 co-incided with the start of the French Open Tennis Tournament. A further 200 Mini Advantage's were exported to Japan, which were also sold in yellow.

The Mini Advantage was originally meant to be the fifth member of the 'London Collection' themed Limited Edition Mini's. Intended to be called the Mini 'Wimbledon', the Tennis themed Mini Advantage was prevented from being so named following objections from the famous Lawn Tennis Club. However, the use of the Tennis theme remained and the Advantage name allowed publicity opportunities to be made abroad, such as its launch on May 25, 1987 at the start of the French Open Tennis Tournament.

In contrast to the previous 'London Collection' Mini's, the Mini Advantage's focus was more sporting, and less opulent. Consequently, the interior was a distinctive grey, with Green Tennis netting 'Advantage' graphics. Completing the interior was a Tachometer (for the first time since the Mini Sprite), and a push button radio. The exterior featured chrome framed opening rear side windows, all trim, wheel arches etc. were in Nimbus grey, and for the first time the Diamond White paint was matched by white wheel trims. Full length Tennis netting 'Advantage' graphics ran between the front and rear wheel arches, with 'Advantage' logos featuring on the doors and the top right hand of the bootlid.

Once the Mini Advantage had disappeared from Austin Rover Dealer's showrooms the name was subsequently reused on other models in the Austin Rover stable, although none featured the obvious Tennis connection or Tennis net graphics seen on the Mini Advantage. All these follow-on's to the Mini Advantage bore a strong sporting flavour - first came a Limited Edition Metro, in maroon with white 'Advantage' decals, a thick white body band encircling the body just below bumper height and white alloy wheels, followed by the same treatement of a Limited Edition Montego in a pearlescent mauve, and remarkably, a repeat run of a second generation Limited Edition Metro Advantage. In all cases the 'Advantage' script used for the decal was identical in style to that originally used on the Mini Advantage.

Part Number	Description	Price (UK Pounds Sterling)
JPC 8477	O/S door/body side	£11.23
JPC 8478	N/S door/body side	£11.79
JPC 8479	Boot lid	£6.01

Notes:	1.	Prices quoted are in UK Pounds Sterling and in the UK are subject to VAT @ 17.5%.
	2.	NLS = No Longer Serviced (i.e. not available from Rover).
	3.	Prices quoted are from the Rover Parts Retail Price List effective from 5th July 1999.

1/36th Scale Corgi Mini's - The Mini Advanatge came in the 3rd 'Mini Limited Editions' gift set sold in the UK exclusively by Woolworths in 1992. Also in the set were a Mini Sprite and a Mini British Open Classic.

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