MINI has released a special Paddy Hopkirk edition of the Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works hatchback, which goes on sale next month.
Anniversary of Monte Carlo win
2020 sees the 56th anniversary of Paddy Hopkirk's legendary Monte Carlo Rally win. We've looked up what a 56th-anniversary present is supposed to be and the other suggestions were boxwood or a trip to Stonehenge (seriously). Frankly, we'd rather have the red MINI...
Not just red, though, because this being a special edition it also has... stickers. The Paddy Hopkirk edition gets the famed No.37 emblazoned on the doors, along with high-gloss black styling elements, 18-inch John Cooper Works forged alloy wheels, stickers that read "Paddy Hopkirk Monte Carlo", a single white stripe along the bonnet, and Paddy's signature on the boot. There's also driving spotlights and a representation of Paddy's '33 EJB' numberplate from his winning MINI on the bonnet.
Hopkirk's signature
Inside, Paddy's signature is also on the dash, and his name is on the sill plates. There's lashings of piano black trim and a key fob with the number 37 on it.
"Hopkirk's victorious run in the Mini Cooper S was frenetically celebrated by spectators on site and motor racing fans" said a Mini spokesperson. "Driving the small British car with his co-pilot Henry Liddon, Hopkirk overcame the odds against competitors with significantly greater engine power. The handicap formula in force at the time meant that differences in weight and output within the starting field were compensated to a certain extent. But the crucial factors in the challenging chase over country roads and mountain passes, through ice snow, round tight corners and down steep slopes were the agility and reliability of the Mini Cooper S and Hopkirk's driving skills."
Multiple Monte wins
It was a huge win for the then-30-year old Hopkirk (who's still hale and hearty, we're pleased to report) and it kicked off four wins in a row for the Mini on the Monte, including the infamous 1966 triumph which was spuriously thrown out by the organisers for a made-up technical infringement.
If it hadn't been for Paddy, and latterly for his Finnish teammates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen, would we still be talking as much about the Mini today?