Mini Cooper (50th Anniversary Gold Plated Edition) in Gold (1:36 scale)
- The Mini-Cooper was the brainchild of John Cooper, then proprietor of the successful Cooper Formula 1 team. He saw the racing potential in his friend Issigonis’ nimble economy car, the Mini, & after building a prototype, persuaded BMC to build the 1000 cars needed for homologation. BMC agreed to pay Cooper £2 per car for the use of his prestigious name, & the Austin Seven Cooper (and Morris Mini Cooper) were launched on 20th September 1961. The Austin version officially became the Mini-Cooper in January 1962. BMC worried it wouldn’t sell but high profile motor sport success soon meant it became the classless car everyone wanted.