The Little Mini that was, and is, a "Starr"

The Mini was the revered motor symbol of the 1960s, and it was expected that the era 's biggest popular music group – The Beatles – would all be representatives of Alec Issigoni's own masterpiece. But while it's fairly easy to cart your guitar around in a mini, a set of drums is another matter entirely.

 

And it is said that Ringo stipulated that he needed to be able to fit the drum kit, making it different from the drum kit bought for the other members of the 'Fab Four.' The solution to the lack-of-space / accessibility issue was the conversion of hatchbacks that coachbuilder Harold Radford provided as an alternative to his up-market Mini de Ville GT, launched in October 1965.

 

Like all Beatles' Minis, 'LLO 836D' was bought new by the band manager Brian Epstein, to whom it was first registered in May 1966. The registration number is in the same series as that of Paul McCartney's Aston Martin DB6 ('LLO 840D'), which was presumably bought at the same time.

 

The registration was made to Richard Starkey (Ringo's actual name) on 15 June 1967, and he kept the car until it was sold in December 1968. Nothing is known of its subsequent history until 1977, when the former Starr Mini was bought by the current owner 's father.

 

Although 'LLO 836D' was part of the BBC Television program 'Blue Peter' in February 1984, it was described as 'Rolls-Royce of Minis' and in March of the same year it was shown at the 'Beatle City' exhibition in Liverpool. In August 1987, the Mini was seen in Dallas , Texas, as the Beatle City Festival was moved to the USA and upon its return home was restored by Naylor Brothers in 1990/1991.

 

In 1998, Ringo's Mini won the prestigious Cartier 'Style et Luxe' competition at the Goodwood 'Festival of Speed,' and three years later – in 2001 – was featured on BBC TV's flagship auto show 'Top Gear.' Motoring magazines listed the car's many unique features, such as:

 

Bonnet vents

Extended wheel arches

Manx alloy wheels

De-seamed bodyshell

Waso fuel filler caps

Bespoke window frames and quarter lights

Webasto sunroof

Hooper and Radford badges

Triple ancillary gauges

Rev counter

Cigar lighter

MotoLita steering wheel on Mark II column

Internal bonnet release

Walnut dashboard and door cappings

Folding rear seat

Door handles

Electric windows

Etched Sundym glass (side windows)

Huntmaster reclining seats

Driving lamps (individually switchable)

Benolite grille

Morris 1100 indicators

Door warning lights

VW 'Beetle' rear lightsCibié headlights in Innocenti rims


Take a look at these awesome shots of this super rare and super cool Mini.