Driving a Paddy Hopkirk Mini Cooper S Rally Car - Mini Perfection !

As a Mini fan it doesn't get much better than being invited to drive this Classic Mini Cooper S Paddy Hopkirk Tribute Rally Car. This car just oozes heritage and provenance. Only 4 of these replicas were made and this is the only lefthand drive version. Paddy Hopkirk himself owns one of the others.

A huge thank you to my mate Ellis for such a special invite. It is great to be able to share such a special car with you.

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[bch]

When you see any original mini on the road you can't help but smile, they are brilliant 😊👍

[billcollins]

I'm nearly 60 now, but back in the day my first 4 cars were all minis. 2 were standard and 2 had quite a few ££££'s spent on them as fast road cars. I was smiling all through this video, your excitement perfectly explains the feeling that goes with owning one 😁.

[craigdawson]

Only someone who’s driven Mini’s, can really appreciate the thrilling romance of driving them. #Brick

[schutrupsg]

Coincidentally I watched this video with headphones on and kept turning up the volume. The sound of this mini's engine and gearbox are music to my ears. Great video.

[DSCC]

Boy this takes me back. My second car was a B regards mini, de-seamed, with an Austin 1300 engine and running on 10" wheels and 7"wide Avon tyres. Quick it was brilliant. Makes me want to get another one, but would probably get in but not out of the thing. Every true Petrolhead should experience one of these. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

[adamweston]

I passed my driving test in a mini and I have to say that the mini is a superb car what ever spec it's in and unless you've driven one you'll never understand why they are so loved.thank you Mr issigonis .

[iolaire]

Never had a Cooper but two classic Minis a 1968 1000 and 1970 1100 Clubman. So much fun in my younger days. Both were ten years old when I owned them with usual things to fix!

[andymurdoch]

Beautiful little car.
I have a similar one in my garage.
Drives like a go-kart and straight cut gears just sound awesome.
Buy one now before electricity takes over the roads. You don't get Webers on a Tesla.

[lelandpodoll]

Friend of my dad brought a 62 Mini Cooper S which was set up for rallies back to the states and he gave me a ride in it, it was great and rode really well I’ve loved Minis ever sense. When Honda came out with the first Civic in 1973 it reminded me so much of a mini and we bought one.

[richardcarter]

Wonderful. I still have a 63 mini minor and 65 cooper. I use them all the time. Magic

[robrussell]

I saw the Halda on the dash which instantly transported me back to my Dad's 63 Mini Cooper which he rallied in the '60s. He used to put a bit of clear plastic tube on the switches, extending them and making it easier to zero the dials. Haven't thought about that for ages! And the noise in the video is faithful. Fabulous.

[PaulPinkstone-xdhg]

Mini's are an absolute true legend!
Will we ever see the light of it again, I think not!
Brilliant video very very jealous.

[TheLRider]

Had one Cooper and two Cooper Ss. The last one had a Jack Knight 5 speed g.box which made it a different car all together. They are stunning little cars. Loved them that last one got sold to a guy from Hong Kong. So it's still there for all I know.. Thanks so much for uploading sweet sweet memories.

[gerryjamesedwards]

Some of the best fun I've ever had in a car was in an 1100 Special with a stage 1 head, 1-inch spacers all 'round and a cherry-bomb exhaust. It was like a go-cart on bad acid, and had the ability to set off every single car alarm on Bishops Avenue at 4000rpm.

[Guffin]

Your enthusiasm for this little gem is truly infectious. I am off to begin welding the body on mine.

[sapphie]

As you said at the beginning of the video one car you would want to own is a Mini Cooper S. Myself too, only ever been in one S I was about 19. Never driven one but is the top of my list of favourites. Great vid you lucky guy.

[timphotoec]

WOW! I had a pair of Hopkirk bonnet straps on my Mini Moke and i cherished those. So the whole car!!!! Amazing. Really amazing.Its great that you obviously appreciated what you had there also. Good for you.

[fminiac]

I’m absolutely in my element having had 2 Classic minis in my younger years prior to picking up my f56 Cooper S on Monday just gone. I had a massive smile watching this video and now I’m wanting a classic 1 again.

[Driver]

Unsung Mini film was the first Bourne Movie, great car chase scenes, Mini was awesome.

[waynesdongle]

Thank you .. I had at the age of 19 for three years a 1968 Morris Mini Cooper 998 (short reach) and that was in 1974, same colour as the one in the video, added Dunlop alloys wheels and a black light bar with Cibies.... Just BRILLIANT. This video brought back so many memories and sounds. Finally sold it and bought a 1972 Opel Mantra 1900A, Had great fun in that too BUT NOTHING LIKE THE COOPER. Just wish I had kept it. Now drive a VW Beach Buggy with an Impreza engine (all year round as live on a small island in the Indian Ocean), that brings back in part the same experiences as the Cooper, BUT still would like my old Cooper for the shear experiences of cornering .