25 Year Anniversary of the New Mini at the Great British Car Journey

We brought out our 1959 Austin Seven Mini, which still feels just as clever today as it did 67 years ago. Alongside it, we showcased our 1984 Mini 25 – a fitting nod to the 25th anniversary of the new Mini.

We then added our pre-production Mini Cooper S (R53), a real turning-point car. There was a lot riding on that generation when BMW brought Mini back, but once you drive it, it’s clear they got it right. To round things off, we placed our brand-new Mini Cooper S Electric at the end. We’ve had it on loan from Mini for a few weeks, and the best way to describe it is simple: it’s like an electric go-kart.

Drive It Day turned into an unexpected Mini celebration for us this year.

With it being 25 years since the new Mini first rolled off the production line at Cowley, we thought it was the perfect excuse to gather a few together and mark the occasion. What we didn’t anticipate, though, was just how perfectly everything would come together.

Minis on Drive it Day!

That’s the thing with Mini. So many cars come and go – they get bigger, softer, and lose their identity. Somehow, Mini hasn’t. Of course it’s evolved over the years, but it’s never strayed too far from what it’s meant to be. You don’t really know driving until you’ve driven a Mini and with our current “drive 2 for £99” offer, there’s never been a better excuse to find out.

We’ve always called it our hero car at Great British Car Journey, and days like this show exactly why. It connects with people on every level – whether they remember them when they were new, grew up with one, or have simply always seen them around.