Mini's are notorious for that. The early ones had a different gearbox to the later ones and are much softer. If it's a pain to get into reverse sometimes then it's an early one.
www.newminiscotland.co.uk
^^^a fantastic site if you need some mini advice, just say I sent you. Handy place for when you come to sell it too
you tried autotrader mate? Normally a good few on there
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