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MINI United Silverstone Highlights

June 22nd, 2009 by Steve Cypher

MINI celebrates 50 years at the third edition of the MINI United Festival in Silverstone.

50 years of MINI

MINI United

This year’s MINI United Festival, held at the site of the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic British marque. In celebration, more than 25,000 fans arrived on the scene in over 10,000 MINIs – a scene of Lilliputian dimensions unrivaled since the wrapping-up of the original MGM production of The Wizard of Oz.

Owners and their Issigonis-designed and inspired livery assembled from points as distant as Russia, South Africa and, dare we say, from across the pond in the USA.

George Harrison MINI

Inspired by George Harrison

To help mark the 50th anniversary, there was a reinterpretation of George Harrison’s MINI, which was presented to his wife, Olivia, on behalf of the Material World Charitable Foundation where it will be auctioned off later this year in a fund raiser. “George was a huge MINI fan and he would have enjoyed this new version. The fact that the 50th anniversary celebrations for MINI will also benefit our foundation has made it an enjoyable as well as meaningful collaboration,” said Olivia Harrison.

New Harrison MINI

Olivia Harrison & Paul Weller & New Harrison-inspired MINI

In addition to the MINIs that appeared in the movies “The Italian Job” and “Austin Powers”, there were a number of unique models created by David Bowie, Kate Moss, Paul Smith, Missoni and graphic designer Alan Aldridge that were also on display.

MINI United

Another mini

Also on hand was the legendary (at least for those of us who grew up in the 60’s and truly appreciated her contribution) inventor of the mini-skirt, Mary Quant. It seems that her “long-guarded” secret is that fact that the “mini” in mini-skirt had nothing to do with the actual length (or lack, thereof) of the garment but, rather, it was her much-loved MINI that led her to choose the name.

Mary Quant mocels