I’ve said so many times before that every car comes with a story. This is particularly true for classic cars that have passed through several owners over the years. One of the most interesting stories I’ve heard about recently is the one that comes with our rare 1977 Leyland Silver Jubilee Mini.
This little British icon was originally built to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. Only 25 were produced in this unique silver-over-blue specification. This particular Mini, though, has a bit more to its history.
Back in 1977, a school teacher entered a competition run by St Cuthbert’s Co-op and Colgate toothpaste. The prize was this Mini, specially finished to mark the Queen’s 25 years on the throne. The teacher in question, Margaret Irvine, ended up winning the competition and became the car’s new owner. However, she didn’t have a driving licence at this point in time.
As a result, the Mini was tucked away in a garage in Buckstone, Edinburgh. It stayed there for three years until Margaret finally passed her driving test, and even then, it was only taken out occasionally. By the time it was sold in 2008, it had covered just 2,500 miles.
Over the years, the Mini stayed local and remained in the same family. It was well cared for and only driven on rare occasions, averaging around 200 miles a year.
Now, with just over 5,500 miles on the clock, this very original Mini has made its way to Suffolk and into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Complete with a substantial collection of paperwork for its very interesting history, including MOTs, service records, and the original telegram congratulating Margaret on winning the competition. The documentation even includes a letter from the organisers explaining how Margaret had also won a Raleigh Chopper in the same competition. However, she declined the bike so someone else could have a chance at winning.
In something of a full-circle moment, our 1977 Leyland Mini will, once again, be won in a competition!
More about this incredible car will be in the next issue of Driver Magazine (out in August 2025).
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