The 1960s Mini Coopers as used in The Italian Job have temporarily traded places with the Lord Mayor’s state coach in the Museum of London’s City gallery.
Three Minis used by Paramount Pictures to promote the 1969 film The Italian Job take pride of place in the Museum of London over the next two weeks. Part of the film was shot on London Wall, opposite the Museum’s City Gallery. The movie’s star was London-born actor Sir Michael Caine who, on 27 May 2010, opened the Museum’s Galleries of Modern London.
Although no Minis survived the making of the actual film (no surprise to anyone who has seen it) these are original Mini Coopers, built between1965-1969.
The Mini was designed for the British Motor Corporation by Sir Alec Issigonis. It remains an icon of the Swinging Sixties but was in production between 1959 and 2000. The Mini Cooper and Cooper ‘S’ were sportier versions of this much-loved car. The Coopers were successful competition cars, winning the Monte Carlo Rally from 1964 through to 1967 and turning rally drivers like Paddy Hopkirk and Timo Mäkinen into household names.
The Minis will remain on display until 14 November. They temporarily replace the Lord Mayor’s state coach, which will take centre stage in the Lord Mayor’s show, organised annually by the Corporation of the City of London. The coach will return on 16 November.
ww.museumoflondon.org.uk