MINI Cooper
The Mini reborn: bigger, safer and still built in Oxford.
The story
BMW kept the Mini name when it sold Rover and launched a modern car with the old one's cheeky face and go-kart handling. Purists grumbled about the size. Buyers queued, and the Oxford factory has been busy ever since.
Inside
A dinner-plate speedometer in the centre of the dash, a rev counter on the steering column and a row of metal toggle switches, all nods to the 1959 original.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
Its engine was built in Brazil, in a factory shared with Chrysler.
On screen
The Italian Job Film, 2003
The remake swaps the old Minis for new ones and Turin for Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, in 2001
A new style of number plate arrived in September, with two digits to show a car's age.
Best-selling single of 2001: It Wasn't Me by Shaggy featuring Rikrok
Before you buy a 2000s car
- Check the service history, especially for timing belts, clutches and cambelts where fitted.
- Electronics, air conditioning and suspension repairs can be expensive.
- Many parts are still made, but some low-volume models rely on specialists.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.