HERE at Martin Howey Classics (Est. 26 years) we do not pretend to sell the most expensive classics, nor do we offer you the cheapest. What we do, and we firmly believe we have been doing for more than two decades, is to offer the BEST VALUE FOR MONEY classic vehicles in the current UK marketplace.

Thus, offered for sale today is a 1980 Mini. A wolf in sheep's clothing you might say. Having begun life as a humble "City" model, this mini gem is now something completely different in all respects. Totally restored around 11 years ago, she presents herself as a total one-off.

She was fitted with a rebuilt 1275cc engine with gas flow head and a swift tune cam. The gearbox is a rebuild by Guess Works Mini specialists. You can probably imagine how she drives! She has done maybe a few hundred miles since the total rebuild, emerging from dry storage on a regular basis just to keep everything moving.

Her underside is in matching red body colour with the sub-frames powder coated. Body panel wise, practically every panel was replaced. The fine detailing ran all the way down to things like the scuttle being replaced with both outer and inner panels with the same applying to the A post panels.

She has a delightful interior boasting Cooper leather seats and high quality black headlining. The small clock to the driver's side of the eye-shaped dash is now a very neat rev counter. She was given a 50-mile road test yesterday and performed without fault. And what a driver!

This description is based on my opinion of the vehicle, the paperwork that comes with the car and anything I have been told about it. The vehicle is 44-years-old and this cannot be taken as a definitive statement for obvious reasons. As with most classic cars, there may be faults and quirks whilst, almost inevitably, some degree of tinkering and care will always be called for. Such are the joys of owning an antique vehicle and they must be taken within their own context and not compared to modern day cars. They are sold as old, mainly out-dated machines and come without any comeback whatsoever. They are my terms and conditions.

My classic cars are motoring antiques. This car, for example, is 44-years-old. It's not two, five or even ten-years-old as your own everyday car may be. It has been in service for more than 40 years and so will have quirks and faults in there somewhere. However, faults on these old girls are not always apparent when buying and selling classics which is what I do. I do not restore them, nor do I pretend that they are concours cars. The majority of them go out as they came in, and I continue to enjoy finding more - a skill which is becoming increasingly difficult as many of you will be aware. They deserve to be taken on as "family pets" and cared for through thick and then. They don't make them any more and demand now out-strips supply. Please bear all this in mind, and enjoy your classic car. I can also assist with delivery and so please ask for a quote.

I have now been established as a one-man band classic car dealer for 25 years and pride myself on my buying prowess and - due to small margins - my prices which I firmly believe are up there among the very best in the UK classic car marketplace.

Thanks, Martin. 07595 020282