Popular 'Gonk' style legend proclaiming "I love (using symbol ❤ ) my Mini"
Production may have ended in the year 2000 but, in 2012 the Mini is still going strong:
Need I say more?
2019 - Mini Curiosities remembered!
Duncan McKenzie hurdling (or is that hurtling?) over a Mini - image sourced from Leeds United
2019 - Top Gear Salutes the Mini
Transmitted on 16th June 2019
2019 - 'The Italian Job' celebrates 50th Anniversary
Radio Times write-up for the "Diamond Year Geezers"
The Italian Job mob! Left to right: Peter Collinson, David Salamone, Fred Emney, John Morris, Stanley Caine, Michael Standing, Derek Ware, Benny Hill, George Innis, Michael Caine, Tony Beckley, John Forgeham, Barry Cox, Robert Powell, Harry Baird, Richard Essame and Frank Jarvis
Image sourced from and © of Paramount/Oakhurst Productions/K
2019 - Mini celebrates 60
So where are the other 400 Minis?
2019 - Mini Police Car Sells for £31k
Scan of article in The Telegraph - 11th April 2019
2019 - 'Mission Ignition' - Channel 4
Channel 4 launches 'Mission Ignition' on Saturday, 30th March 2019 - the Classic Mini featured in episode two transmitted on Saturday, 6th April.
'Mission Ignition' the new Channel 4 Motoring Show featuring the Classic Mini - screen dump from Channel 4 website
The Classic Mini Challenge revealed in episode 2 transmitted 6th April 2019 - screen dump from Channel 4 replay
The Blue Team who will be rebuilding the Classic Mini - screen dump from Channel 4 replay
Although the VW 'Beetle' Red Team beat the Blues, there is no doubt that there is genuine love for the Classic Mini by the Blue Team who were only a few seconds in completing, behind the Reds. Apart from the race to reconstruct the vehicles (winners keep the car) there were interesting historical insights presented about both cars including archive film of Sir Alec Issigonis and John Cooper and the inevitable link of the 'People's Wagon' to the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. One thing I didn't know but which is fascinating, is that when Germany was partitioned after WWII the factory producing the Beetle ended up in the British sector. The factory, regrettably was being run using slave labour, but the British turned this around by keeping the workforce, building them up physically and giving them a trade and employment for life. I shall look at the Beetle with more respect from now on.
2018 - "From Ocean's 11 to The Italian Job we're suckers for a heist movie"
"Catch them if you can" article by Andrew Collins as it appeared in the 1 - 7 December edition of the Radio Times
Well if the Radio Times says it, it must be true and of course it features our favourite movie 'The (original) Italian Job!
2018 - 'Legends of Tomorrow'
Image sourced from space.ca Episode synopsis here
So who is the secret Mini fan in the 'Legends of Tomorrow' sci-fi series? Season 4 episode 3 entitled 'Dancing Queen' treated us to a Police Panda Mini, a red mini and telephone kiosk in an episode set in London 1977 and it's not the first time! Season 3 featured a mini as a backdrop to a romantic scene! - images used to illustrate the storyline are screen dumps from the actual episode
2018 - Paul McCartney's customised Mini Cooper from The Beatles' 1967 Magical Mystery Tour sells for £182k
Singer Paul McCartney was brought the Mini Cooper S DeVille by Brian Epstein - the manager of The Beatles. Finished in California Sage Green paintwork, this original right-hand drive UK Home Market car was UK-registered 'GGJ382C' and shown in the Beatles' 1967 Magical Mystery Tour movie with Paul in the background.
This classic Mini built specially for Sir Paul McCartney has been sold at auction for a staggering £182,000 - image courtesy & © of World Wide Auctioneers
By Zoie O'brien For Mailonline | Published: 20:49, 6th September 2018 | Updated: 09:22, 7th September 2018
- All you need is petrol! Paul McCartney's customised Morris Mini Cooper from The Beatles' 1967 Magical Mystery Tour movie sells for £182,000
- Sir Paul McCartney's Mini Cooper has been sold for an eye-watering £182,000
- The Beatle's Morris Mini Cooper S DeVille was one of four made in the Sixties
- The Mini was in Hollywood in the 1970s and has remained in the USA for 40 years
The luxurious Mini was kitted out a with a sunroof, twin fog lights mounted within the grille, Aston Martin rear lights, a three-spoke steering wheel, power windows, a walnut dashboard and leather seats
Under the bonnet was the top-spec 1275cc engine which would have given the Mini a top speed approaching 100mph. - Images © of World Wide Auctioneers and SWNS.com
A classic Mini built specially for Sir Paul McCartney has been sold at auction for a staggering £182,000.
It was the Swinging Sixties when Beatles manager Brian Epstein ordered four Minis for the band, with three customised by Radford and one by British coachbuilder Hooper. McCartney took delivery of an ultra-cool Morris Mini Cooper S DeVille which had been overhauled by South Kensington-based Radford. The luxurious Mini was kitted out a with a sunroof, twin fog lights mounted within the grille, Aston Martin rear lights, a three-spoke steering wheel, power windows, a walnut dashboard and leather seats.
2018 - 18th August - Mini in new BBC2 Reality Show 'Eight Go Rallying'
Mini adventure: Shirlie and Martin Kemp before their crash - image courtesy & © of the BBC/Optomen Television Limited via the Daily Telegraph
1973 Mini with Shirlie and Martin Kemp sourced from the Daily Telegraph
As covered by the Daily Mail
- Our very own Wacky Races: Zipping 2,500 miles through Asia in a celebrity rally sounds crazy - but Martin and Shirlie Kemp loved every minute of it (even when they rolled the car over in a paddy field!)
- The BBC2 series Eight Go Rallying: The Road To Saigon follows four celeb duos
- They join a classic car rally from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Saigon in Vietnam
- Martin Kemp and wife Shirlie discuss the highs and lows of their adventure
The new BBC2 series Eight Go Rallying: The Road To Saigon, which started on 18th, August, follows four celebrity duos who join a classic car rally from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Saigon in Vietnam, covering 2,500 miles. The reality TV show is part race, part travelogue and part the story of how famous people get along when invited to compete in a public event (not so much Love Island, more Murder On The Orient Express). The main interest is in the interaction of the duos: with each other and also with the other pairs. There's Noel Edmonds and his wife Liz; Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) and wife Shirlie (Wham!); chef Andi Oliver and her TV presenter daughter Miquita; and singer Tinchy Stryder and close friend Jordan Stephens (Rizzle Kicks).
So what persuaded them to take part and what were the highlights?
- Shirlie: It wasn't the car and the driving that appealed. I have never been a 'petrol-head'. What I loved was the prospect of seeing South-East Asia: I'd never been to Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia, so the chance of discovering them in one 12-day journey grabbed me. It wasn't the sort of holiday I'd been dreaming of – not something I'd have wanted to pay for as a holiday, but as a journey, it sounded incredible.
-
Martin: I was excited by the idea of the rally. I'd never been to Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam either. I'm more into cars than Shirlie: I've been lucky enough to own nice cars and have an addiction to Porsche 911s. I've had about 15 of them.
A long drive seemed so much fun – but what really appealed was doing it with Shirlie – just the two of us together. The only time we ever argue is because of the satnav in the car. But on this journey: no satnav!
- Shirlie: I knew we would get on. The only thing that worried me is that the journey would involve spending lots of time together – days and nights – with no real break. Our car was an old-fashioned Mini: a 1972 canary yellow Mini 1000. What surprised me was the number of cameras mounted all over the place. That was hard to get used to – it makes you very self-conscious.
- Martin: The Mini is a small car and I'm over 6ft tall. We couldn't have known it then but this would become a very big problem on our second day. When we had the…
- Shirlie: …the accident! | Read the full article here
2018 - The 'Hoff' in Farmfoods Ad
"The Hoff returns! Famous for his TV roles in Baywatch and Night Rider, David Hasselhoff stars in the latest Farmfoods campaign in a series of funny commercials." - View on YouTube
2018 - 28th March - all Electric Classic Mini in New York!
Engineers have turned the classic model into an electric car. Images courtesy & © of SWNS as used by The Independent
Mini has unveiled a one-off electric version of its iconic original car, as the British firm showcases its zero-emissions technology. The classic Mini is one of the world’s most recognisable city cars, with more than five million sold between 1959 and 2000. Now engineers at the Oxford-based manufacturer have transported a classic model into the 21st century by turning it into an electric car. The road-legal car is fitted with 30 lithium-iron phosphate batteries to give it a range of 65 miles and a top speed of 75mph.
Mini has created the modern vehicle by combining the compact but practical old design with the new zero-emissions technology. A statement from Mini said: “With this unique vehicle, Mini sends out a clear signal demonstrating its commitment to retaining the brand’s unmistakable character whilst embracing innovative zero local emission technology. "The exterior red paint is complemented by a contrast white roof and characteristic bonnet strip, with the yellow Mini Electric logo in the brand emblem and on the wheel hubs. “The electric classic remains true to the brand, both in terms of its visual appearance and driving characteristics. “The spontaneous power of its electric motor provides a new dimension to the unmistakable go-kart feeling that helped propel the British small car in its original form to worldwide popularity.”
Mini and BMW unveiled the electric car at the New York Auto Show. It will remain a one-off with no plans to return the classic car to production. However, Mini is currently working on an electric version of its current three-door Mini which is set to go on sale next year, marking the 60th anniversary of the original model designed by Sir Alec Issigonis. The new Mini’s electric drivetrain will be built at the BMW Group’s e-mobility centre in Bavaria, Germany, before being integrated into the car at Oxford, which is the main production location for the three-door Mini. Source : The Independent | Read more : Autocar |
For the remastering story visit The Independent
2018 - 8th March - Still influencing the nation!
From the Daily Mail dated Thursday, 8th March 2018 - online article
A MINI TRIUMPH
For housewives in the Western world, the Mini sparked a revolution, enabling them to undertake the weekly shop or the school run without relying on public transport. It gave women new freedom to escape the domestic sphere, and its success spurred other manufacturers to produce smaller, cheaper cars targeted at women and the young.
Little wonder that the Mini was once voted the most significant car of the 20th century.
2018 - 3rd February - 52nd Anniversary of the 1,000,000th Mini
Longbridge factory BMC 1965. Alec Issigonis, Technical Director of BMC, oversees the millionth Mini (an Austin Mini) as it comes of the production line in the Car Assembly Building. Image & text/legend sourced from the Mk 1 Forum via the Daily Mail
2018 - 24th January on 'Quest Tv'
See how Surf Blue/Price Engineering contributed to the 'finishing' of the Mini pictured above!
2017 - Stories/Images of the Classic Mini still grab headlines! Twice on 13th December
Ringo's Mini sells for £102,000.00 at Bonhams
Always nice to know the Beatles are 'on trend' and even better that this version should have survived into the 21st century!
Mini image used in Money Mail Article highlighting (legitimate) Insurance 'scam'
Read the full story here - image courtesy of Getty Images
2017 - The English expat who's gone to war with his German neighbours with a life-size Queen & Corgies, Phone Box*, Mini and Centurion Tank
To complete the scene there is an original lime green* Mini bearing the image of Mr Bean - image courtesy & © of Reuters
*Actually. I think the car is 'Limeflower' (as was the interior of my first mini bought in 1972) but what would the reporters who call a telephone kiosk a 'box' know? For the full story visit the Kiosk section or the Mail on-line.
2017 - Is 'The Italian Job' really the best British film ever?
Nearly 50 years after it was released, Michael Caine movie is still a hit
Iconic image taken from the 1969 Film featuring the star of the shows - image © Stop Press
2017 - The great Mini 'Remastered'
A really souped up version of the Classic Mini currently very popular in the States - read more on Top Gear
Watch the video here
2017 - Mini voted 'Best Car Ever'
Did anyone ever doubt that?
Britain's best ever car is revealed - and it's not James Bond's Aston Martin
The iconic motor – famed for its roles in classic films such as the Italian Job and The Bourne Identity – beat some much pricier competition to be given the top honour by industry chiefs
- Mini, 1959-2000
- Jaguar E-Type, 1961-75
- Land Rover Defender, 1948-2016
- Aston Martin DB5, 1963-1965
- McLaren F1, 1992-1998
- Range Rover Mk1, 1970-1996
- Ford GT40, 1964-1969
- Caterham/Lotus Seven, 1957-now
- Ford Escort Mk1, 1967-1975
- Lotus Elise, 1996-2001
Forget flashy Jaguars or James Bond’s Aston Martin - the Mini has been voted Britain’s best-ever car. The iconic motor – famed for its roles in classic films such as The Italian Job and The Bourne Identity – beat some much pricier competition. The Jaguar E-Type came in second place and the Land Rover Defender in third.
The original Mini – which was in production from 1959 to 2000 – was a life changer for many and brought affordable motoring to the masses. A spokesman from Auto Express, which carried out the poll, said: “Minis were once as common as lampposts on UK roads –5.3 million were built. “Now the originals are cherished classics that raise a smile from everyone. They still dominate classic motorsport, too. No wonder our experts said the mighty Mini is the mightiest British car of all time.”
Ten top car manufacturers’ bosses, including representatives from Aston Martin, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover, created the list of the most influential models made in the UK. The judging panel was provided with a shortlist of 75 vehicles that rolled off UK production lines at one time or another, with each member asked to pick their top 10 based on sales, design and performance. Others chosen included the Aston Martin DB5, which was first used in a 007 flick in 1964’s Goldfinger, driven by Sean Connery, and most recently in Skyfall with Daniel Craig. The McLaren F1, the Lotus Elise and the Ford Escort MK1 were also near the top of the pile.
Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler said: “This survey is a reminder of how many iconic cars Britain has produced over the years. “So many of our Top 50 cars redefined segments and pushed the boundaries of what was possible. “The British automotive industry should be proud of its achievements and confident of the future.”
2015 - Mini - involved with Remembrance Fund Raising
Images courtesy of the British Mini Club
2015 - Mini features in 'Sexist' 1970s ads
Image copyright the Advertising Archives
'You've seen the ads from the Fifties and the Sixties, but this shocking selection from the Seventies shows that the real Mad Men of advertising learnt next to nothing about women over the years. For everything from cars to cigarettes to electric blankets, these ads show that while variety may be the spice of life, there's nothing like a semi-clad woman for bringing the customers running.'
The Daily Mail ran an article featuring 'perceived (by 21st century standards) 1970s adverts 'sexualising' women! One of those was for the Mini as shown above. As I was the very embodiment of that girl in the 1970s living in London and loving my 1972 Mini 1000 I'd like to ask, therefore, if I am seen as a 'Bimbo' some 40+ years later. A 'Bimbo' with some pretty extensive qualifications and experience of life! Lived in London in the 1970s, was a loyal 'Biba' (that's Biba not Bimbo) girl, lived and loved my Mini, even the nasty plastic seating which burnt any part of your unclothed body after time in the sun! Never suffered from an STD, travelled freely and extensively across the world (alone), had a steady job throughout, bought a house, got a mortgage and waited after I'd done all that to get married! Got married a second time too!
2015 - Mini - the villain in 'Emmerdale'
Honestly! How could they?
2014 - Two TV Programmes devoted to the Mini in May
Quest TV gave us Brian Johnson
Quest TV beat Channel 4 to the pip by broadcasting on Thursday, 8th May 2014
The Mini featured in Episode 1 of the series
"Whether it’s the old or new model, there’s a place in every Brit’s heart for the Mini. In this episode Brian will delve into its rich history, and get to the bottom of the world’s enduring love for this truly iconic car.
Brian heads to the Mini factory in Cowley in Oxford to witness how these loveable little cars are put together. From the assembly line he’ll get the lowdown on Mini’s big history, from the ground breaking first model to it’s more recent revamp and on‐going popularity. As well as his factory visit Brian test drives an original Mini from the Italian Job and competes in the Masters Historic Racing Festival at Brands Hatch."
Channel 4 offered Philip Glenister
Philip Glenister in Channel 4's 'For the Love of Cars' broadcast on Sunday, 11th May 2014
Two images copyright and courtesy of Channel 4 showing the Mini before restoration
Two images copyright and courtesy of Channel 4 showing the Mini 'before and after' and the re-built engine
The Mini featured in Episode 4 of the series
"The Mini Cooper Mk1 was the car that changed everything. Now it's down to Philip Glenister and internationally renowned car designer Ant Anstead to find, rescue and restore one back to its former glory.
But no ordinary model - Phil has set his hopes on an incredibly rare Mk 1 Cooper. Ant finally tracks one down in Dublin; a rusting heap at the back of a barn.
From its revolutionary design and front-wheel drive, to its conquering record as a track and rally car, the Mk 1 was the small car with the big heart driven by royalty, 60s superstars and the man and woman on the street.
Everyone loved the Mini and it is widely considered to be one of the greatest cars ever built. Philip explores the story of the Mini and meets Stirling Moss. He throws one around one of the most dangerous roads in the county and the show concludes with a Mini flash mob."
Mini voted the greatest British car of all time (Did you ever doubt it?) - 2014
With car production in Britain estimated to hit record levels by 2015, a poll reveals that the original Mini is still the greatest home-grown car of all. (Full article in sidebar)
2014 - Picadilly, London
My friend, Ken, sent me this from the "Cool Britannia Store", Picadilly Circus, London - 04.03.2014
2012 - Chelsea Flower Show
Flowers cover a Mini Cooper at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, on May 21, 2012. The Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious of Britain's flower shows and is held every year in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital.
You certainly don't ................
This page is reserved for our interest in the Classic Mini [you know, as seen in 'The Italian Job'] - "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" - Michael Caine
Who says?
1967 - Cat, Classic Mini & 'Life' Magazine
1960s - Women in Motorsport & Social History: Mini Skirts and Mini Coopers
Rachel Harris-Gardiner explores the exciting world of 1960s saloon racers.
The start of the 1960s saw many social changes. One of the biggest was the advent of the affordable car. The Austin Mini's low price point put it in reach of more people than ever before. Other compact, price-conscious saloons followed.
Images courtesy & © of the Motoring Picture Library
Women were one of the groups that really benefitted from this opening-up of the automotive market. They tended to have less earning power than men, and only wealthy women were able to purchase their own cars. In the 1960s, this began to change. Racing cars, too, were within reach of more potential drivers than ever before. A Mini Cooper could be fitted with an after-market tuning kit and made track-ready quite easily. Again, some of the biggest beneficiaries of this development were budding female racers. The daughters of women who had learned to handle cars and other machinery during the War, buoyed by the first rumblings of both youth culture and the Second Wave of feminism, were unafraid. Read more
How iconic is this?:
Perfect Harmony - a Classic Mini and a BMW 'Mini' sporting the same livery - possibly Vermillion red bodywork with accompanying (as yet unidentified) sky blue Union Jack Roof - wow!
Page refreshed : 12th September 2019 (G)