Our Paul Smith Mini Takes a Trip to Nottingham
Every now and again, one of our cars goes out for something a little special — and this week it was the turn of our Paul Smith Mini. With the launch of the brand-new Mini by Paul Smith taking place in Tokyo, and as it turns out, our Mini helped out too, with its outing to Nottingham!
It’s not often that a car and a fashion designer share such a strong link, but the Mini and Paul Smith have always made a perfect match. Both are proudly British, full of personality, and not afraid to stand out.
We have also created a range of merchandise to celebrate our very rare little icon
From Classic Charm to Modern Cool
Our 1998 Paul Smith Mini is one of the most recognisable special editions ever made. Painted in deep Paul Smith Blue, with bright lime green hidden under the bonnet, it’s unmistakably the work of the designer himself. Only 1,800 were built worldwide, making it one of the rarer and more sought-after late-model Minis — and one that always draws attention in our museum.
Fast forward to 2025, and Paul Smith is back working with Mini once again. The latest collaboration, launched in Tokyo with Sir Paul himself, reimagines the much-loved classic as an all-electric city car. This new version strips the Mini back to its essentials, combining modern sustainability with that same sense of fun and creativity that made the original so loved.
It’s quite something to see the same designer revisiting the same shape nearly three decades later, this time through a modern lens. The new car might run silently and plug in at night, but the essence — that clever, compact British design — hasn’t changed a bit.
Back to Its Rootes in Nottingham
To celebrate the new car’s debut, we took our 1998 Paul Smith Mini out to a rather fitting location: the Paul Smith mural in Nottingham. Painted in the same vibrant blue as the car itself, the mural sits just around the corner from Paul’s first shop on Byard Lane — where his career as a designer truly began.
It was the perfect backdrop. Seeing our Mini parked in front of the mural felt like a homecoming of sorts — a nod to the designer’s Nottingham roots and to the shared spirit between the old car and the new. The bold colour, the clever details, and the unmistakable character are all still there.
Moments like that remind us why we love doing what we do. These cars aren’t just museum pieces; they’re living, breathing bits of British culture that still connect with people today.
Drive a Mini Yourself
Of course, the best way to appreciate a Mini is from the driver’s seat — and at Great British Car Journey, you can do exactly that. Our Drive Dad’s Car experience gives you the chance to get behind the wheel of several classic Minis from across the decades.
Whether you fancy something from the early sixties or a later Rover model, there’s nothing quite like the feel of a Mini on the move. The steering is light, the gearbox is snappy, and the handling is just as cheeky as everyone remembers.
We are also pleased to announce our very own New Mini added to our driving fleet too!
As Paul Smith’s new creation makes headlines around the world, it’s lovely to be able to celebrate the car’s origins a little closer to home. From the streets of Nottingham to the bright lights of Tokyo, the Mini’s story continues — proof that some designs never go out of style.
