Mini Cooper S

Retro-cars don’t get any better than this

- Bob Rupani

The original Mini made its appearance in 1959 and soon became an icon known for its innovative transverse engine and front-wheel drive layout, super space management, amazing agility and outstanding driving dynamics. The performance versions introduced subsequently, the Mini Cooper and Cooper S, were successful in motorsport, winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967. In fact till date, the original Mini is raced in many countries, including Sri Lanka.

The last Mini was produced in October 2000, but this was not to be the end of this fantastic car. Just around the time the original Mini was going out of production, in a strange coincidence materialized the ‘retro-movement’ leading to the introduction of nostalgia inspired vehicles. While the auto industry was making more modern and advanced cars, there was also a bunch of customers who were wistful about the great cars of the 60s and 70s and they did not want them to fade away into oblivion. Thus started the era of retrocars or modern machines, with styling and performance elements which paid homage to the old legends. Enthusiasts could now have a ‘classic car that was also contemporary’. It was almost akin to a car from the 60s driving into a time machine and metamorphosing into a 21st century vehicle.