MINI's 60th Anniversary Birthday Bash!

MINI is 60! It’s hard to imagine that such an iconic car, engrained in the minds of millions worldwide courtesy of almost legendary films such as The Italian Job and Mr Bean, began life as a single sketch on a serviette by Sir Alex Issigonis. The original Mini Cooper was a game changer when it was first launched in 1959, utilising a front transversely-mounted engine driving the front wheels, which enabled the designers and engineers to fit 4 adults into a relatively small body shell. The MINI marque of today still embodies the original values of the classic model, combining clever usage of space with the go-kart-like handling characteristics of the British Motor Corporation (BMC)-produced predecessor.

To celebrate the occasion, Eurokars, the official distributors for the MINI brand locally, threw a little birthday party. The intimate gathering was held in the NCO Club, a quaint location rich in heritage that is befitting for the marque. It served as the ideal backdrop to launch MINI’s 60th birthday present to itself – a special edition MINI Cooper, complete with badging commemorating the occasion, and a newly-launched, special edition-specific shade of British Racing Green.

The entire event was British-themed, with lots of British food and beverage for us to sample. We started off this gathering at the Oxford Heritage Gallery, a space which was filled with a condensed version of the more iconic timestamps in the brand’s history.

Issigonis Drawing Room was next on the agenda. The finest British Whiskey could be had here, in the company of wall-hung photos of the original Mini en-route to victory in the Monte Carlo Rally.

You could write well-wishes for the MINI marque at the Austin Bar in front of a special display set up on the glass panel of the NCO Club’s swimming pool. Still famished? Not to worry, a plethora of British snacks were on hand!

Pre-lunch, we were led to relax at their 1959 lounge & dining to regroup, before we headed off to John Cooper Tracks, one of the pubs at said venue. There, we were given a taste of a traditional British pub, complete with soundtracks from iconic British artistes.

Speaking of iconic, the cars. This special edition range of cars are equipped with features unique to said line, that includes MINI’s Yours Leather Lounge 60 Years Dark Maroon upholstery and a hand-stitched nappa leather MINI Yours steering wheel badged with the 60 Years insignia.

Other parts of the car that sport said insignia include its side scuttles, front door entry strips, and even logo projections when you open the doors. Outside, you can have option your MINI in Cooper or Cooper S Specifications, and they are also available in both 3 or 5 Door trim. 4 colour options are available - a new shade of British Racing Green, Moonwalk Grey, Midnight Black or Melting Silver. Matt black bonnet stripes accented with the 60 Years insignia, and , two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels in Dark Spectre Grey finish off the cars.

Credits: Jek Ray Low