Now, there are a lot of great driving games you can play on your PC or device. But using a controller while lying on the couch is not the same as being in charge of a car. If you’d rather drive a vehicle with wheels and pedals, this model inside an old Mini Cooper might suit you. Motor1 says this life-size driving model was made in Britain from an actual 1974 Mini Cooper. Even better, the car was changed to look like the blue Mini from the 1969 version of The Italian Job, which is much better than the 2003 copy, as any expert will tell you. The simulator is being auctioned off at Car & Classic right now. It has all the features you could want for virtual driving. Simjack and Heusinkveld’s parts have been used to turn the original Mini’s accelerator, stop, and clutch pedals into simulator controls. For a real manual driving experience, a four-speed gear works and has a reverse. It was chosen not to use a race wheel controller for the project. Instead, the original Mini steering wheel is still connected to the original rack. When you move in a game, the front wheels turn. The simulator gets information about where the steering is pointing from a Hall effect monitor. The system would give the driver some resistance if there weren’t any force input. The Mini’s original engine and gearbox have been removed, and now the computer technology from the model is inside. It now runs Assetto Corsa and BeamNG, two games that model different types of police chases. With the help of a Benq 4K short-throw projector, a 180-degree curved projection screen is set up in front of the car. Even though it was taken off to get a better view, the windshield is still in the car. The car has a driver’s seat with a motion system that makes it feel like you’re speeding and slowing down, which is more realistic than most simulators. The build has a wind model with faster-blowing fans to make it feel like you’re moving quickly. The original Mini gauges have been changed to show data from the simulation app about the car, like its speed, fuel level, and water temperature. As of this writing, the only bid is £2000, which is about USD 2,450. Because this pattern is so unique and cute, you can expect it to sell for a little more.
