Part four in our countdown to MINI’s 60th anniversary on August 26
- Mr Bean
- John Lennon
- George Harrison
- Ringo Starr / Geri Halliwell
- Enzo Ferrari
- Steve McQueen
- Peter Sellers
- Mick Jagger
- Ed Sheeran
- More Mini magic: Top 10 giant-killing MINI motorsport achievements Top 10 things you didn’t know about Mini Top 10 Mini’s – 60th anniversary
The Mini is pop icon in its own right, but it has also attracted its fair share of famous owners. Here’s a selection of celebrities that have owned — and loved — their Mini during the last 60 years.
Mr Bean
While he may not have said a word, British comedian Rowan Atkinson undoubtedly gave Mini its biggest audience through his comically hilarious Mr Bean character.
Actually, Mr Bean drove six different Minis throughout his on-screen career — the first an orange 1969 MkII while the rest were late-model 1977 Mini 1000s, all with a black bonnet and featuring his trademark padlock on the driver’s door.
John Lennon
The Mini has always been seen as a perfect car for learner drivers, but none have had such prominence as John Lennon’s Radford-modified 1965 Austin Cooper S.
Featuring black bumpers and wheels and the darkest window tinting possible, it was allegedly his first car. But, as the story goes, when he moved to the USA he reportedly gave it to his butler who lived on a canal boat and it subsequently rusted and was later scrapped.
George Harrison
All four of the Beatles actually had a coach-built Mini Cooper S given to them by manager Brian Epstein.
But only one car appeared in the film Magical Mystery Tour, and that was George Harrison’s black Cooper S, which he would later repaint red and cover with psychedelic murals from the book Tantra Art: Its Philosophy and Physics.
Ringo Starr / Geri Halliwell
This is a Mini that has remained a part of rock royalty. The 1966 Radford-built Cooper S was first owned by Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr and featured a unique hatchback layout so he could load his drum kit in the back.
But it’s now in the hands of Geri ‘Ginger Spice’ Halliwell, who paid more than a $180,000 for it at auction in 2017.
Enzo Ferrari
For a man obsessed by power — and the creator of the most powerful supercars — Enzo Ferrari often commuted between Modena and Maranello in a Mini Cooper S.
The eponymous founder of the famous Italian sports car company was a friend of Alec Issigonis, and the British designer is said to have specially created a Cooper S for Ferrari — painted in red, of course!
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was as much a petrol-head as he was a Hollywood heart throb. Famous for his racing exploits — as well as the car chase in Bullit and making the movie Le Mans — he had a huge collection of cars.
These included a 1967 Mini Cooper S, which he modified and repainted from its original British Racing Green to a two-tone cream-over-bronze palette.
Madonna
Madonna loved her 2002 Black MINI Cooper S so much she sung about it on the title track from her ninth studio, American Life, released in 2003.
The Material Girl was often spotted scooting around London in the car when she lived there while married to British movie director Guy Ritchie.
Peter Sellers
Peter Sellars is believed to have started the Mini celebrity craze when he commissioned a coach-built 1962 Cooper S to be lavishly overhauled by London’s leading luxury car dealer, HR Owen.
The work was reportedly carried out by Hooper Motor Services and featured Royal Purple paintwork with whicker cane panels on the exterior, plus wheel spats, modified Aston Martin tail-lights, headlights from Bentley, a Connelly hide interior, woodgrain dash and even electric windows.
It reportedly cost Sellers 2600 pounds, which is almost four times the cost of the standard Cooper S at the time.
Mick Jagger
While the Beatles all had Minis, so too did Rolling Stone frontman Mick Jagger. And, as you’d expect, Jagger’s Cooper S was just as pimped out, with an overhaul completed by coach-builders Wood and Pickett.
While little is known of the car, Wood and Pickett also modified Minis for fellow British rockers Elton John, Cream’s Ginger Baker and The Monkees’ Mike Nesmith.
Ed Sheeran
Just like John Lennon, flame-haired British crooner Ed Sheeran bought a Mini as his first car — reportedly after showcasing that he couldn’t drive (and didn’t have a license) when he appeared as a guest on Top Gear in its Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment.
According to British newspaper The Sun, Sheeran claimed One Direction’s “Harry Styles had a massive go at me. He said ‘We get it. You’re relatable. Get an Aston Martin.’ I was like, ‘I don’t really like fast cars’ and he said ‘Stop trying to get in with people.’.”
More Mini magic: Top 10 giant-killing MINI motorsport achievements Top 10 things you didn’t know about Mini
Top 10 Mini’s – 60th anniversary
Keyword: Top 10 famous people who owned a MINI