Chris Rea’s electrified classic Mini is coming up for auction

Classic Mini fans, start counting your pennies and saving up those... electricities: one moderately sporty and moderately unusual example of the cult classic is hitting the market. Singer Chris Rea's bespoke, electrified 1989 Mini is coming up for auction, and it's expected to fetch anywhere between £30k to £35k.

Outside of its electricities, the one-off Mini Thirty Electric features a couple of quirky characteristics, namely a plate depicting a 45in vinyl disc and the words of the festive hit ‘Driving home for Christmas’ across the power unit (just in time for... next Christmas?), and Rea’s actual signature on a plaque inside, near the driver's side door sill.

The whole thing was commissioned by BMW back in 2023 and built by an outfit called Recharged Heritage which outfits the little tykes with electrifications. Speaking of which, this one's been given a 99bhp electric motor and 19kWh battery, 129lb ft torque, roughly 110 miles of range, and a 0-60mph time of eight seconds. The powertrain was developed and supplied by Fellten, an EV conversion kit manufacturer.

Inside you'll find a surprising amount of space because Classic Mini, an adapted retro-styled gear selector, analogue instrument gauges and a retro-Mini charging cap. The bodywork is painted in a delightful midnight black, there are smoky grey rear lights, and alongside bespoke “Rea-Recharged” bonnet stripes, it was given the sports package upgrade across the suspension, brakes and tyres. Sounds good.

As does Rea's song, of course. He's previously explained how the veritable earworm of a track describes the journey he and his wife Joan made from Abbey Road Studios to their home in Middlesborough back in 1978 in a Mini - though to be clear, not this exact one.

No, this exact one will make the journey to Iconic Auctioneers' 'Race Retro' sale on 22 February, with the proceeds going to domestic abuse charity Refuge. "I’m incredibly proud to see this Mini, which holds such personal significance, being auctioned for such a vital cause," Rea said.

So this, or a new Renault 5?