Munich. John Lennon drove one, Peter Sellers roared
through his detective comedies in one, and even the Queen was
chauffeured through the park of Windsor Castle in one. Countless
celebrities succumbed to the charm of the classic Mini, which was
first presented to the public 60 years ago. The car’s distinctive
design, surprisingly generous space and agile driving characteristics
were all major factors in the revolutionary small car being accepted
into the circles of high society at an early stage – especially in its
home country of Great Britain. Exclusive photographs show numerous
stars from the world of music, film and fashion choosing the classic
Mini as their preferred means of transport, making it an icon of its time.
To mark the brand’s 60th anniversary furthermore, MINI is
commemorating those glorious early years with some exceptional special
vehicles. Following the successful market launch of the MINI 60 Years
Edition for the current MINI 3-door and MINI 5-door, the classic Mini
will once again be at the forefront. A unique, elaborately restored
one-off in the colourful striped design of the current MINI 60 Years
Lifestyle Collection revives the fashionable panache and lifestyle of
the wild sixties.
Even after the brand’s relaunch in 2001, celebrities all over the
world were soon enjoying the distinctive driving fun offered by the
modern MINI, which followed firmly in the footsteps of its classic
predecessor. As the first compact car for the premium segment, the
MINI immediately became a trendsetter. Its unconventional concept has
inspired film-makers, musicians, fashion designers and other artists
alike. With its enormous popularity as well as a clear tendency
towards extravagance and immense driving fun, the MINI has made
several appearances in Hollywood films and found its place in the
private fleets of numerous showbiz stars.
Lord Snowdon introduced the classic Mini to the Royal Family.
The fact that the classic Mini was accepted into London society at an
early stage was due to a member of the Royal Family: Lord Snowdon –
photographer, designer, friend of Mini designer Alec Issigonis and the
husband of Princess Margaret – was one of the first to buy the new
small car. A family photograph taken in 1965 shows him with Princess
Margaret and their son David on a tour of London in a Mini.
Lord Snowdon paved the way to a royal weekend residence for the Mini
as early as 1960: his sister-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, was chauffeured
by Issigonis through the park of Windsor Castle. For the small
automobile, this was something of a knighthood – the highest of royal
honours that Issigonis himself went on to receive nine years later.
The Beatles, the Monkees, the Beach Boys, Spencer Davis, Mick
Jagger, Eric Clapton and David Bowie – the Mini was a hit for all of them.
In the years that followed, the Mini secured a firm place in the
fashion, art and music scene of “Swinging London”. Its international
fame was not least due to the enthusiasm it generated among all
members of the Beatles. John Lennon ordered a Mini in 1964 – even
though he didn’t have a driving licence. Historical photographs show
drummer Ringo Starr with one of the Mini Cooper S models that took
part in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally and Paul McCartney getting into his
private Mini in 1967. Guitarist George Harrison was the proud owner of
a Mini de Ville, refined by renowned bodymaker Radford. When the
Beatles met in 1967 to shoot their TV film “Magical Mystery Tour” at
West Malling Airfield in Kent, John Lennon also enjoyed racing across
the airfield in a Mini painted in psychedelic colours.
The affection of well-known musicians for the classic Mini lasted for
decades, and it was by no means limited to the British Isles. While
the popularity of the Mini became an increasingly global phenomenon,
pop and rock bands from the US gained new fans in Europe. In 1966, it
was the Beach Boys who set off on an international tour with their
surfer sound, posing in front of a Mini Moke in Great Britain. This
image of the Californian musicians with a beach mobile bearing the
band’s name spread around the world. The American band, The Monkees,
reached the peak of their popularity at about the same time. There is
a photograph dating back to this period in which guitarist and singer
Michael Nesmith and his girlfriend Phyllis are looking up through the
folding roof of a Mini into the camera above. Like Beatle Harrison,
Monkee Nesmith had his own personal Mini Cooper S made by Radford.
This extravagant and expensive one-off specimen not only had a folding
roof but also a 100-hp engine and a wooden dashboard with additional instruments.
As well as to enjoying driving the classic Mini, London-born musician
David Bowie was particularly impressed with its parking capabilities.
He firmly believed there was no other automobile designed so perfectly
for city life. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original,
Bowie designed a classic Mini in 1999 that reflected its entire
surroundings – like a polished teapot made of British silver. German
singer Nina Hagen was also photographed with a Mini Cooper for the
magazine Paris Match in the French capital in 1994.
Born to be an action hero: the classic Mini as a film star on four wheels.
Sometimes as an extra, sometimes in the leading role – the classic
Mini has appeared in television series and feature films spanning six
decades. It makes an appearance in the 1966 cult movie “Blow Up” as
well as in the crime comedy “Kaleidoscope” of the same year, in which
the then still largely unknown Warren Beatty played the leading role.
The film “A Cœur Joie” starring Brigitte Bardot also came out in 1966:
it features fashion models travelling in the Mini Cooper. The fact
that French star Bardot had a close connection with the British car in
her private life as well is demonstrated in photographs taken in 1980
in which she can be seen accompanied by her dogs in a Mini Moke.
“The Bionic Woman” was a TV series that enjoyed considerable
popularity in both the USA and the UK. In 1976, leading actress
Lindsay Wagner posed in London in front of a classic Mini attached to
a steel frame, giving the impression she was lifting the vehicle with
one hand – apparently possessing superhuman powers like her character
from the TV series.
The scenes in which the classic Mini was used by British actor Peter
Sellers and director Blake Edwards, were similarly unconventional and
humorous. Sellers and Edwards made the film “A Shot in the Dark” in
1964 as a sequel to the crime comedy “The Pink Panther”. As Inspector
Clouseau, Sellers drives a rather unusual Mini Cooper – here the actor
was also demonstrating his off-screen penchant for extravagant special
versions of the classic Mini. The film vehicle is a Mini de Ville made
by Radford featuring a wickerwork design on the flanks of the body.
Over the years, Peter Sellers acquired about a dozen individually
enhanced classic Mini vehicles, including one he gave to his then wife
Britt Ekland as the contents of an oversized birthday cake presented
to her at the Radford sales premises in London in 1965.
Probably the most spectacular big-screen appearance of the classic
Mini was in the 1969 gangster comedy “The Italian Job”. In this film,
crook Charlie Croker played by Michael Caine joins forces with an
accomplice to plan a gold theft in the centre of Turin. They load
their booty into three Mini Coopers – painted red, blue and white –
before setting off on a breathtaking escape through a sewer tunnel and
over roofs and stairs in the midst of the traffic turmoil in the
Italian city. 34 years later, “The Italian Job” was to hit cinemas
again: in the new version featuring Hollywood stars Charlize Theron,
Jason Statham and Mark Wahlberg, the story of a spectacular gold theft
was staged in even more effective and high-speed style. When it came
to casting the leading four-wheeled stars, the choice fell – how could
it be otherwise – on the new MINI Cooper S, which now demonstrated its
agility and sporty flair on and under the streets of Los Angeles.
On the road as part of the fashion scene, too.
In the Swinging London of the 1960s, not only were new musical sounds
emerging but also the stylish trends of the fashion world – and the
classic Mini was always right at the heart of the action. Lesley
Hornby – better known by her nickname Twiggy – passed her driving test
in a classic Mini in 1968.
Mary Quant, influential women’s fashion designer and inventor of the
mini skirt, was also inspired by the classic Mini. Shortly after
obtaining her driving licence, she ordered a black Mini and later
designed a special edition – recognisable by its black and white
striped seat covers, among other things. The British designer also
took a liking to the new MINI: “It’s a fashionable, cheerful and
smiling car.”
At the end of the 1990s, Paul Smith, one of Britain’s most famous
men’s fashion designers, created a limited special series of the
classic Mini with a paint finish in a shade of blue created by himself
to match the anthracite-coloured alloy wheels. Another unique edition
at least as popular as this was presented for the 40th anniversary of
the classic Mini, which Smith painted in his typical multicolour
striped design.
In case of queries, please contact:
BMW Group Press and PR
Sarah Bauer, MINI Lifestyle Collection Communication
Tel.: +49-89-382-94180; E-mail: sarah.bauer@mini.com
Sylvia Heydt, MINI Lifestyle Communication
Telefon: +49-89-382-23522; E-Mail: sylvia.heydt@bmwgroup.com
Andreas Lampka, Head of Communication MINI
Phone +49-89-382-23662; E-mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production
and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in
the financial year 2018 was € 9.815 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 97.480 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 129,932 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore
established ecological and social sustainability throughout the
value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear
commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
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