A 6ft 4ins tall car expert is Britain’s biggest Mini fan.
Phil Mires has sold over £1 million worth of the iconic motors by the age of 30 and is a recognised boffin on the car.
And loves them despite his height.
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“At 6ft 4in you’d think I would be the last person to love a Mini,” he said.
“But they are surprisingly roomy with ample headroom for drivers even as tall as me.
“The original Alec Issigonis design is a classic with the modern take on it bringing a whole new life to the marque in the 21st century.
“It is that rare thing a car at an accessible price that will suit just about everyone with its iconic design, easy manoeuvrability and great acceleration.
“Its size also means that it is easy to park and great for driving in cities as well as on the open road.”
It’s no coincidence that several top racing drivers opted for Minis, while John Cooper, the engineer whose name is so closely associated with the Mini, adapted the range for rally driving.
“In 1997 John Cooper Garages unveiled two new exciting iterations of the iconic Mini Cooper S; the Cooper S Touring and the Cooper S Sport 5,” said Phil.
“Both were designed to offer a thrilling driving experience, featuring advancements such as multi-point fuel injection and other developments from the latest Mk7 Rover Mini.”
Phil thinks that the Cooper S Sport 5 was particularly impressive, equipped with a Jack Knight 5-speed close-ratio helical gearbox that maximised the enhanced performance of the modified engine.
“For the very first time you could purchase a classic Mini with a 5-speed gearbox as standard.
“Meanwhile the S Touring retained the original 4-speed gearbox, possessing a taller 2:7 final drive for a more relaxed cruising experience – hence the name ‘Touring’.”
Both models remained in production until 1999 and were exclusively available for purchase through John Cooper Garages.
While official production numbers remain unknown, it is estimated that around 100 Mini Cooper S Touring models were made, with possibly only 30 units of the Mini Cooper S Sport 5, making it one of the rarest editions of the classic Mini.
Phil who runs Phil Mires Classic Cars in Chertsey, Surrey, has one of each for sale each worth around £20,000 each.
“When you consider the design, performance and limited production run they were incredibly competitively priced,” he added.
Phil’s own story is just as impressive.
Having left school with good A-Levels he hit rock bottom at the age of just 20 finding himself in minimum-wage, zero-hours ‘dogsbody’ at his local golf course.
“I was stuck in this dead-end job earning peanuts with no prospects but I had a vision and decided it was time to take action,” he said.
Within a year, driven by an unwavering determination and using £2800 of savings, he took the bold step of starting his own business in antiques and collectables, transforming his life.
Expanding into the classic car industry in 2021, Phil decided to focus on classic Minis and modern classics and launched Phil Mires Classic Cars, as reported by Luxury Auto News.
Now a decade on from scraping a living collecting golf balls from the rough, he boasts an annual turnover of more than £700,000 and has recorded more than £1 million in classic Mini sales alone.
“When I look at these two models and the range of cars in my inventory, it makes me think back to where it all started and how far I have managed to come in the past few years,” added Phil.
“As a sole trader I handle nearly every aspect of the business myself, from sourcing stock, cataloguing, quotations and admin to overseeing courier logistics, stock control, bookkeeping and prepping cars, as well as conducting viewings, devising social media posts and even sourcing car parts.”
In his rare moments of downtime Phil enjoys a passion for football and is a keen supporter of Woking FC.
While he has the means to indulge in more luxuries he has limited himself to buying a home and paying the mortgage.
“I manage my finances wisely and prioritise reinvesting into the business – a key aspect for success – but even though I have to be on call pretty much all of the time, I am my own master, have been able to build up considerable assets and have crafted my own future.”
Now a recognised authority on the Mini, he focuses on limited edition, rare and highly sought-after classic versions of the famous car.
“My collection mainly features Cooper, Cooper Sport and special edition models.
“I’m always on the lookout for quality, well-preserved examples, although finding them can be quite a challenge due to their vulnerability to rust.
“Still, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of discovering these gems,” said Phil.
“Most of my buyers are collectors and enthusiasts, as well as individuals reminiscing about learning to drive in a classic Mini, or fondly remembering a Mini that a relative once owned.
“For many, purchasing a classic Mini is a heartfelt return to their youthful days and cherished driving adventures.”
Phil’s Minis are in high demand.
“I have an ever-increasing client waiting list for particular Minis.
“Prospective buyers contact me with their desired specification and budget and I notify them as soon as a potentially suitable example becomes available.
“Classic Minis are fantastic cars to own, especially since their parts are affordable and readily available,” added Phil.
“They are also highly customisable, can be straightforward to work on and maintain, and they take up half the storage space of a modern-day car.”
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