Austin & Morris Mini Cooper
John Cooper's hot version of Issigonis's little box. The giant-killer.
The story
Alec Issigonis turned the engine sideways and pushed a wheel into each corner, leaving four-fifths of the car's length for people. Racing-car builder John Cooper saw a rally winner in it. The later Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967.
Inside
One big speedometer sits in the middle of a bare painted dash. Early cars have sliding windows, cord door pulls and door bins big enough for shopping.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
It runs on tiny 10-inch wheels, with rubber cones instead of springs.
On screen
The Italian Job Film, 1969
Three Mini Coopers in red, white and blue escape through Turin's arcades, sewers and rooftops with a fortune in gold.
Mr Bean TV, 1990
Mr Bean's lime-green Mini with a padlock on the door. It is an ordinary Mini 1000, not a Cooper.
Meanwhile, in 1961
Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, and Tottenham Hotspur won the league and cup double.
Best-selling single of 1961: Wooden Heart by Elvis Presley
Before you buy a 1960s car
- Check the sills, floorpans, wheel arches and the bottom of the doors for rust.
- Ask for any old MOT certificates, service records and bills.
- Parts for popular cars are often available from specialists, but trim and body panels can be hard to find.
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.