Driving Home for Christmas singer Chris Rea sent his classic Mini to auction for charity

This time last year, a rather special classic Mini made headlines for all the right reasons. The car was a unique electric version of the Rover Mini Thirty that belonged to Chris Rea, the singer behind one of the most loved festive songs in the country. The Mini headed to auction in February, and the entire sale supported Refuge, a leading charity that helps women and children who are living with domestic abuse.

As a classic car specialist, we always enjoy moments where automotive history crosses into a good cause. With the festive season here again, it feels like the right moment to look back at what happened and why this particular Mini created so much interest.

Chris Rea is a British singer-songwriter whose career spans more than four decades. His warm, distinctive voice and blues influence created a loyal following across the world.

Most people know him for Driving Home for Christmas, a song that has become a festive tradition in its own right. The idea came to him during a difficult journey home in a small Mini in the late seventies, and that real moment shaped a song that now signals the start of Christmas for many families.

The story behind Chis Rea’s electric Mini

In 2021, BMW Mini launched a winter campaign inspired by Driving Home for Christmas and invited Mini owners to share their own festive journeys. To celebrate the song’s origins, BMW Mini commissioned a one-off electric conversion based on a 1989 Rover Mini Thirty.

Specialists removed the original engine and fitted a new electric power unit styled like a vinyl record with lyrics from the song. Chris Rea’s signature was added to a plaque on the finished car, which was later presented to him at Abbey Road Studios.

Although the car was created as a celebratory piece, Chris Rea made a generous decision. He offered the car for auction with all proceeds supporting Refuge. His statement at the time reflected a very personal view. Driving Home for Christmas holds deep meaning for him, and he hopes the sale will support families experiencing domestic abuse.

The auction house Iconic Auctioneers also supported the cause by donating their associated fees. This meant every part of the sale contributed directly to Refuge and the wider work they carry out across the UK.

Refuge is one of the most respected organisations in the country for people who are living with domestic abuse. The charity provides safe accommodation, community services and a national helpline that operates at every hour of the day. Their work supports thousands of women and children each year.

Donate here to support Refuge.

Auction day at Race Retro

The sale took place at Race Retro in Stoneleigh Park in February 2025. The car entered the event with a guide price of £30,000 to £35,000 and drew considerable attention from collectors, Mini enthusiasts and fans of the singer.

The Mini Thirty has a place in British motoring history as a limited production model created to mark thirty years of the Mini. Around 3000 examples were built for the UK. The car offered by Chris Rea was one of the black versions fitted with the classic black and red interior, Minilite style wheels and period features.

The electric conversion added another layer of interest. Buyers were able to view the car in person the day before the sale, which helped showcase the vinyl record-style power unit and the overall finish of the conversion.

It is not often that a classic Mini with this level of provenance appears at auction, and the fact that it supported such an important cause only strengthened the moment.

At Phil Mires Classic Cars, we enjoy celebrating these unique stories within the classic car world. They remind us that every vehicle carries a history, and sometimes that history becomes something much larger.

If you are considering selling a classic car or would like a quotation, contact us today, and we will be happy to help.

(All Photo Credit to Iconic Auctioneers)