Happy 50th Birthday Mini!

Vijay Pattni reports from the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon to celebrate the Mini’s 50th birthday.

Most 50-year-olds opt for a quick nip/tuck here and there and break out the hair dye.

But with Mini – there’s not a grey hair in sight.

The world’s most lovable motor celebrates 50 years of production today, and the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon is holding a series of festivities to mark the miniature motor's ascent into the history books.

And on hand to give the old girl a gentle little push – and a handbrake turn – is professional stunt man Russ Swift. A man many believe to be The Stig...

“It’s a fantastic little car” enthuses The Stig - I mean Russ - as he performs a ‘J-turn’ in a 211bhp John Cooper Works Mini to park just inches away from a pristine classic.

“I’ve had hundreds over the years – its one of those cars that you can get in and just really drive.”

And Russ showed the crowd exactly how he likes to drive the Mini, by kicking its baby legs onto two wheels.

Celeb fave

The special Mini exhibition kicks off this weekend and includes 'mini' Minis designed by celebrities including David Bowie, Kate Moss, Jay Kay and designer Paul Smith, as well as allowing show-goers the chance to design their own.

And Gaydon has saved some absolute classics from the scrapheap, including the very first Morris Mini to roll off the production line, a cutaway Mini showing its ingenius design, a rally-spec model, a modified big-wheel Mini and the current BMW built baby.

Outside however, Russ Swift was masterly hyping the crowds by performing incredible stunts showing the real magic of the Mini.

"I'm off to America on Monday", he said, as he reversed faster than my brain registered. "We're filming a documentary which shows me doing my stunts - J-turns and slides - and then slows the camera down and you see me making minute adjustments all the time."

To finish off the launch of the exhibition, a calvacade of classic Minis lovingly restored by devout owners powered into the middle of the Heritage Centre - including the very first model.

Life begins at 50 eh?

View images of Mini's 50th birthday party at Gaydon:

The Mini exhibition kicks off on 10th May 2009 and lasts until 23rd December 2009. For more information, visit their website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk.

Which celebrities have been spotted in Minis? View our image gallery below:

Some say...

Who is The Stig? Leave a comment here