The company holding the Austin brand has launched two new Mini models that echo the design of those made in 1959. The cars are exact replicas of the original small-displacement cars, but they are ready to race. These two people will both be at the Goodwood Revival this year. The first Mini, which was introduced in 1959 under the Austin and Morris names, had a significant impact on culture, despite its small size. It was very useful, cheap, and cool for everyone. Unexpectedly, it also performed well as a race car. The first one is back in time for the Goodwood Revival. Asterisks show very low amounts. It was specifically built for the renowned St. Mary’s Trophy touring car race at Goodwood. The company that owns the Austin name has ordered two cars that are identical to the ones made in 1959. Since most of the famous racing Minis, Coopers, and other cars were produced in the mid-1960s, they are often not eligible to compete in the St. Mary’s Trophy, which is reserved for cars made before that decade. Owens Fabrication, a specialized company in Wales, built these two cars exactly to the rules set in 1959. Even though they had to have roll cages and other safety measures, from the first year the Mini was released, every effort was made to keep them as close as possible to the production road car. The four-cylinder engines came from Swifttune Engineering, a company based in the U.K. that specializes in British Leyland’s A-series motors. They only have one engine and are 850 cc in size. The Minis that won races and events in the 1960s had a little more power, so these two cars will need some skill to get the most out of them. One of the two drivers in the St. Mary’s race is a factory driver for Aston Martin, and the other used to run in Formula One. The most famous Mini driver of all time, Paddy Hopkirk, said that until he crashed into a Cooper version, he thought the original Mini was just a normal sedan. According to the designers, these two cars are intended to evoke the impression that a hungry kid stole the family car and raced in it without permission. Austin regularly participates at Goodwood, but not in the conventional sense. The brand, owned by the Burlen automotive parts company, manufactures the Austin Pedal Cars J40. These pedal cars qualify for the Goodwood Revival Settrington Cup, widely regarded as one of the most delightful races globally. Children as young as ten compete on the track in pedal cars, beginning with a start that mirrors the iconic Le Mans circuit. It seems very fitting for a company that makes pedal cars to make some old Minis. It’s just one more example of how committed fans of the original Mini are to making sure it lives on.
