Skip to content

PLEASE NOTE: Customs/import tax charges may be added to your order. The courier will notify you of any such charges by SMS or email.

PLEASE NOTE: Customs/import tax charges may be added to your order. The courier will notify you of any such charges by SMS or email.

Italian Job Celebration in Cowley

A Mini Italian Job Celebration in Cowley

Opening with a filmed message from Sir Michael Caine himself, the Italian Job evening at the MINI plant at Cowley got off to a cracking start. Sir Michael even revealed that he learnt to drive at the locations used during filming.

Cars from the British cult film

Another factor that made this evening truly unique and very special was the display of cars alongside the big screen. Assembled together for the first time for 50 years  since the film was made  were the three surviving original cars – the Lamborghini Miura, the Aston Martin DB4 Convertible and the red E-type Roadster.

The three Minis from the film

As this was very much a Mini celebration, remembering that it is also the iconic car's 60th birthday – 'Happy Birthday, Mini,' said Caine in his distinctive Cockney accent – three superb replicas of the red, white and blue Minis sat on the other side of the screen.

Books on display with the Minis

Central to the whole evening was one of our latest books, 'The Self Preservation Society – 50 Years of The Italian Job' by Matthew Field. Caine ended his message with the words, 'You gotta buy this book – it's got a foreword by me!'

Celebration of 60 years of the Mini

 

A distinguished panel, expertly led by Matthew, discussed the film after the showing, and kept the audience of several hundred fascinated and entertained. There was Michael Deeley, the Oscar-winning film Producer; well-known actor Robert Powell; David Salamone who sourced the cars for the movie and, as Dominic, drove the red Mini with Caine as his passenger during the famous escape from Turin and Hazel Collinson, widow of the late Director Peter, who had a cameo role in the film. Like all the others, she had some wonderful and hilarious stories.

From the MINI world, it was splendid to see and chat with the great Paddy Hopkirk, winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally and current President of the British Racing Drivers' Club.

Dressed in the blue robbers suit

All the amazing media coverage of the book and the film's 50th anniversary celebrations underlines the enduring popularity of the '60s classic, which was voted the best British film of all time. 

Bars of Gold on the Mini

This MINI celebration staged by BMW was more than a Minor event – it was a major success!

Philip Porter

Lamborghini Muira P400

Classic Edition of the book

Collectors edition of the book

 

Previous article Packaging F1’s magic

Leave a comment

Comments must be approved before appearing

* Required fields