PURPLE RAIN

To be honest, this is one of those cars that's very hard to categorise as it doesn't really fit into any particular grouping. It's been modified, customised and had an engine swap. The bodyshell is resplendent in a rather vibrant, stand-out shade of purple called Purple Rain. This isn't simply a Mini, it's more of a statement piece… a very potent statement piece as it happens. And it belongs to, and was built by, Rhys Williams who's something of a serial Mini restorer and modifier and has been for well over a decade.

"I used to help my dad work on his cars," recalls Rhys smiling. "When I left home I missed doing this kind of thing, so I started looking for a project. As it happened, I saw a 1989 Mini City on eBay. I bid on it and won. I did a light restoration, colour change, added some bolt-on bits, and got it