By John Schein In the past, the fabric of Mini history was thought to have been pulled asunder by the 1969 separation of John Cooper Racing from BMC. In reality it was kept intact, however, you had to travel to South Africa to find this small but important link in the Mini’s sporting legacy. When…
By Adam Ford The afternoon sun streams through the bay window, warming a patch of the floor where Seera and Teco lay on the rug. Teco sleeps, his head nestled on his front paws, unaware of the time of day, but Seera’s ears are alert for the familiar sound. A few cars pass by outside…
By Graham Robson Have you ever driven a Mini? Or sat in one? How frequently do you see one on the road? In the United States, maybe not often—yet in the UK they were once as familiar as hot dogs, fries and Coke. In other words, they were everywhere. I bought my first new Mini…
By Michael Kotowski My friend was among the last group of passengers to fly on the now retired Concord supersonic jetliner. He told me that as the aircraft was gathering speed and climbing toward cruising altitude, an illuminated sign on the bulkhead announced, “You are now traveling faster than a .45 caliber bullet.” “And there…
I’ve collected vintage American cars of every make, Jeeps and more old Volkswagens than any sane man should ever own. Loved them all. But Minis….classic Minis that is…transcend any other car culture I have ever been involved with. Even within the British car crowd, there’s something about a classic Mini. It’s hard to describe yet…
Despite the fact that the MGB and Midget soldiered on through the 70s with few changes (except for those mandated by increasingly more stringent safety regulations) it doesn’t mean that the crew at Abingdon wasn’t hard at work on developing new models for sale alongside – or in place of – those stalwarts. Due to…
If you’re looking to enhance the appearance and functionality of your classic Mini, adding the Moss Fog Lamp Bar #115-503 and the Hella 500 Driving Light Kit can give your car that iconic rally-inspired look. With these modifications, your Mini will be ready to take on any adventure with style. While the installation process is…
For a car to be produced and sold for nearly half a century, it has to have a lot going for it. The Mini, first launched in 1959, is one of the most beloved cars ever made. During 41 years of production, 5.3 million Minis were sold worldwide. When BMW launched the all-new Mini Cooper…
Jim Babcock’s 1967 MINI MK 1 By Jim McGowan The last MINI to be legally imported into the U.S. had to beat an in-country deadline of December 31, 1967. This ’67 Austin Cooper “S” MK I was a high school graduation present for its original and current owner, Jim Babcock. Jim first experienced MINI wonderment…
Has BMW bred the Britishness out of the new cutemobile? By Robert Goldman Photos By Bill Delaney While the recently deceased “classic” Beetle may forever hold the position of subcompact sales champion, one could argue that the classic Mini was a car of greater historical importance. Don’t believe me? Go out and purchase a new…
