The world's most famous Minis: super Coopers that built a legend
We remember some of the most famous Minis from history
Levi’s, Ray-Ban, Fred Perry and Dr. Martens: they were all designed with prosaic intent, but reaching the height of fashion has seen them ascend to a much more premium position in the market.
The same could be said of MINI which, admittedly by way of BMW’s once controversial reinvention in the early 2000s, has gone from groundbreaking small car to premium fashion accessory that brilliantly retains key elements of the original’s charismatic appeal.
Along the way, the Mini has found its way into the pages of history, thanks to success in motorsport and an extensive portfolio of famous (sometimes infamous) owners. To celebrate our first drive in the all-new MINI Cooper, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most iconic Minis and Mini drivers through the decades.
The Italian Job: Mini Cooper S
While we at Auto Express cannot condone stealing, we also can’t hide our adoration for cult classic The Italian Job and the three Mini Cooper S getaway cars. While almost all of the models used in filming were destroyed, one interesting fact is that the gold stored in the boot would, in real life, weigh more than a tonne. Given that Minis of this era only weigh just over 600kg, this means each car would have had to lug around over one and a half times its own weight.
Rowan Atkinson: Mr. Bean’s Mini
Almost as iconic as the bumbling Mr Bean himself is his Austin Citron Green Mini 1000, complete with black bonnet and padlocked doors. As part of the 50th anniversary of the Goodwood Revival in 2009, Rowan Atkinson recreated the iconic scene from the Mr Bean series, driving the car from the comfort of an armchair mounted on the roof. While the car was actually secretly controlled by a driver hidden in the back seats, we still like to believe that using a mop and rope is the optimum way to drive a Mini.
Paul Smith: MINI Strip
Famous for suits and stripes – and sometimes even striped suits – designer Paul Smith is also well known for his Mini art pieces. While the Signature Stripe Mini of 1999 is probably the first one most people think of, the British fashion icon has also collaborated with the MINI brand several other times, and as recently as 2021. The result of this was the one-off ‘MINI Strip’ concept: essentially a stripped-out MINI Electric, trimmed in sustainable materials and featuring a unique fully glass roof.
Enzo Ferrari: Mini Cooper 1100 S
It’s safe to say that Enzo Ferrari rather liked Minis; in fact, he loved the car’s darty characteristics so much that, according to John Cooper, Ferrari owned as many as three during his life. According to legend, one of these was a 1100 S, which was originally painted bright red. However, after Enzo complained that “only a Ferrari could be red”, it was later repainted in grey. That’s not the only modification the Italian made; he also repositioned the foglights below the headlights and boosted his Mini’s top speed from 93mph to 95mph.
The Beatles: Psychedelic Mini
“Baby, you can drive my car. Yes, I’m gonna be a star” – it’s hard to decide who’s the bigger star here: the Mini or The Beatles. Every one of the Fab Four owned a Mini at some point, but perhaps the most famous of all is George Harrison’s 1965 Austin Cooper S, which featured in the Magical Mystery Tour film. After owning his car for two years, the lead guitarist painted it with psychedelic artwork, using the book Tantra Art: Its Philosophy and Physics as his inspiration.
Madonna: MINI Cooper S
Madonna’s love for her MINI Cooper is well documented, with the car mentioned by name in the title track of her ninth album, American Life. In fact, a censored music video for the song even had her driving a jacked-up, camouflaged MINI onto a catwalk. Her personal MINI, on the other hand, was painted in a much more subtle black and was once shared with her partner at the time, renowned film director Guy Ritchie. The car went up for sale in 2018 at a staggering £55,000, with just 25,000 miles on the clock.
Simon Cowell: Mini eMastered
What do you get if you spend £125,000 on a classic Mini? Well, potty-mouthed music producer Simon Cowell found out last year, when he took delivery of the very first David Brown Automotive Mini eMastered. Based on an original Mini donor car, the eMastered is kitted out with a host of modern touches, including LED lights, a touchscreen infotainment system and, most importantly, a fully electric powertrain giving up to 110 miles of range.
Twiggy: “You Never Forget Your First Mini”
“You never forget your first Mini” was the tagline of the 1989 ad campaign that featured fashion icon Twiggy reminiscing about her first car. The advert itself focused on the Rover Mini Thirty which, as its name suggests, was released to celebrate 30 years since the Mini went into production in 1959. In total, 3,000 examples were made – two thirds of which were red – and every one came with a leather-bound book all about the car’s history up until that point.
Paddy Hopkirk Mini Cooper S: Monte Carlo Rally Winner
Arguably the most famous Mini of all time, Paddy Hopkirk’s Monte Carlo Rally winner from 1964 truly cemented the British icon’s place among the most famed rallying cars of all time. Now on display at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, the Cooper S’s 89bhp four-cylinder engine was dwarfed in terms of power and size by the competition, but snowy weather and Hopkirk’s skills behind the wheel allowed the Mini to take the victory.
