You just know that old Mini with twin Yamaha Sportbike engines can run


Finding the old Mini that hasn’t been changed to some degree is easier said than done as customization is the name of the game in the enthusiast community. But while some owners agree to make a copy of the Cooper, others find more creative ways to get more power from the tiny British icon. One of the most extreme Mini builds we’ve seen in a while is on Bring a Trailer with a pair of motorcycle engines.

The line-up began with the 1990 Rover Mini Mayfair, which was marketed as a relatively elite trim level in an attempt to increase sales in England and abroad. Everyone loves a classic Mini in 2024 (at least as long as you don’t have to work on it; guess how I know), but it was a hard sell in 1990. The model debuted in 1959, so 31 years later it was considered an anachronism (and not very exotic). Mayfair models came with the venerable 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 44 horsepower and 49 lb-ft of torque, and they got more standard features.

None of that mattered to Kent-based Z-Cars, which reportedly built example listed on Bring a Trailer. The shop tore out the 1.0-liter four and packed the engine bay with a fuel cell, radiator, and other hardware. Walk around the back, open the trunk, and you’ll find more than one but two 1.0-liter four-cylinder engines from 1998 Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycles. The R1’s engine has exactly the same 998cc displacement as this Mini’s original engine, so presumably it would only need minor fabrication work to fit into the engine bay, but why stop at just one?

1990 Rover Mini Mayfair with two engines
1990 Rover Mini Mayfair with two engines
Bring the trailer

The water-cooled engines are equipped with four Mikuni carburetors, an electric water pump and a four-in-one exhaust manifold. Each is linked to a six-speed sequential gearbox with straight-cut gears and a dash-mounted shifter, and each has its own clutch system, but both join forces to spin the rear wheels via a Z-Cars Drivebox and Quaife limited – slip differential, as per listing. The electric motor drives the car in reverse, sort of like a Lamborghini Revueltoand the driver can choose whether the car will run with one engine or two for the full 340 hp output. (!). If that doesn’t sound like a lot, don’t forget that the car weighs just over 1,500 pounds. In other words, it has about 160 more horsepower than the new Mazda MX-5 Miatabut it’s about 900 pounds lighter. Fortunately, there is a cage for safety.

The amount of resources that must have gone into this build is impressive. Even beyond the transmission, there isn’t much left that still has the Rover part number. The exterior features massive wheel arches and composite windows, while the interior has been tweaked with Cobra seats, a Sparco steering wheel and a carbon fiber dash. A bulkhead behind the seats turns the rear compartment into an engine compartment.

Bring a Trailer points out a few flaws, but they’re not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. There’s no odometer, so the Mini is listed as ‘actual mileage unknown’, but does that worry anyone in the market for a rear-wheel-drive, twin-engine Mini? Probably not. The fuel gauge isn’t working, which should be a pretty easy fix. At least the paint looks great in the photos and the transmission sounds great in the video.

This Montana-titled but California-located eight-cylinder Mini is listed with a reserve, and bidding is currently at $14,250.

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