1996 MINI 1.3 SPI Kensington | Garage Maestricht

Sought-after limited-run "Kensington" edition
An original Dutch car with 79.900 warranted km's from new, of which >35.000 km's driven by ourselves
Finished in British Racing Green over a Beige full leather interior
Specified with a Webasto electrically-operated panoramic roof from factory
Presented in freshly serviced & sorted condition including completely overhauled suspension: cones, knuckles, hi-lo's, Billstein dampers & more
Accompanied by all original accessories, keys, booklets and a dedicated history file
Fresh out of 13 years of private ownership by ourselves. Now ready for a new home (you can't keep them all)

The Kensington:

By 1991, the classic MINI received a significant update with the introduction of a single point injection (SPI) system, replacing the older carburettor setup. These SPI Minis were offered exclusively with the 1275 cc engine, delivering around 53 hp and (more notably) 92 Nm of torque, which was quite impressive given the car’s approximate 650 kg weight.

Over time, the MINI evolved through numerous versions and special editions, but few matched the refinement and specification of the “Kensington”, named after the prestigious London district. The Kensington was the last special edition Mini MKVI and was destined to select export markets only such as Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in a limited but curated colour palette: Nightfire Red, British Racing Green and Charcoal. Each was accented by a refined pinstripe, while a tan full leather interior was standard regardless of the exterior color.

What truly set the Kensington apart was its luxurious interior, featuring unique seats that are believed to be exclusive to this edition only. Additional highlights included a burr walnut dashboard with three main gauges set behind a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an electrically operated panoramic Webasto sunroof.

Elegant and understated, the Kensington represents one of the most premium expressions of the Classic Mini and today is one of the most sought after editions.

This Kensington PG-PD-92:

This Kensington is an original Dutch-delivered Mini, first registered on April 1st, 1996, and still wearing its original PG-PD-92 registration today. Finished in British Racing Green over a full beige leather interior, it represents the Mini SPI in its most luxurious Kensington specification. Fun little detail: the original Mini booklets are in German, but list the first owner and dealer to be Dutch indeed. This marks that this Mini was perhaps initially destined to the German market, but was last minute allocated to the Netherlands. Not uncommon at the time.

The Kensington is distinguished by its factory Webasto roof, bespoke full leather trim, gold side pin striping, and Kensington badge on the boot lid. All of these original details are still present, underlining the car’s authenticity.

This Mini has been part of our private collection for the past 13 years, when we purchased it with approximately 35.000 km on the odometer. Since then, we covered around 45.000 km, always carefully maintained and enjoyed.

Maintenance has been consistent, with regular servicing regardless of mileage and many key items replaced over the years. Recently, the suspension has been refreshed with new Moulton cones, knuckle joints, Hi-Lo kit and Bilstein dampers. A new water pump (of the evo specification), coolant flush, and electronic switch were also replaced quite recently. When something needed replacing, we always tried to upgrade this Mini where possible with superior parts; polyurethane bushings, ventilated brake discs, Greenstuff & Mintex brake pads & shoes, K&N airfilter, etc.

Prior to offering for sale, the car has been inspected, serviced, and supplied with a fresh MOT (APK) by a Mini specialist, ensuring it is ready to drive.

It has always been garaged and kept on a trickle charger, resulting in a rust-free body with original factory details such as visible spot welds and clean seams. Inevitably, the car shows signs of use (consistent with the overall 80k mileage), but remains in good condition overall.

All mechanical and electrical components function as they should, with the 2nd synchromesh being ok but showing some wear. The car sits on older Falken Ziex tires with decent tread remaining and features a Play Mini centre exhaust silencer for a sportier sound, while retaining the original catalytic converter.

It comes complete with original booklets, keys, toolkit, spare wheel, and a dedicated history file.

In recent years, the car has seen little use, leading to the difficult decision to pass it on. A well-kept and original Kensington like this is becoming increasingly hard to find. Finding a better Classic Mini at this price, will be a hard ask!

SOLD