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Mini AdvanatgeLogo

Launched 2nd June, 1987

Mini AdvantageMini Advantage Press Ad

2,500 Mini Advantage's were sold in the UK

UK cars sold in White Diamond

Cost when new - £4,285.89

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.


Mini Advantage AdMini Advantage AdThe 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.

Mini Advantage Press AdOnce 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.


 



Rarity Rating -

 

 


Spares Availability

Mini Advantage decals

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.


Members Cars

 

 


The Mini Advantage in Miniature

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.


Links

Do you have a site dedicated to the 1987 Mini Advantage? If you'd like it featured here please e-mail the Register


The UK No.1 Single in May, 1987 was...

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

Also in that year... Some of the news from 1987

Salman Rushdie published his book, The Satanic Verses, for which he was 'sentenced to death' by Ayatollah Khomeini... Michael Ryan went mad in Hungerford... Unpredicted 'Hurricane Fish' lashed England... Paul Hogan was Crocodile Dundee... 30 died in the King's Cross underground fire... Whitney Houston and Rick Astley were number ones with I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Never Gonna Give You Up... Stock market crashed... Mike Tyson became the undisputed Heavyweight Champion... Fred Astaire, Danny Kaye, Andy Warhol, Eammon Andrews, Lee Marvin and Rudolph Hess died... Zeebrugge Ferry capsized killing 200... A converted broom cupboard in Knightsbridge is sold for £36,500...


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Last modified: Mar 20, 2003

By: Andrew Murray
webmaster@minilimitededitions.cjb.net