MINI hosts Italian Job reunion to celebrate the film’s 50’s anniversary

It’s been 60 years since Alec Issigonis’ original Mini started production and 50 years since the Mini starred in The Italian Job along with Michael Caine. To celebrate those anniversaries, BMW’s MINI brand hosted a charity event on June 19th at the marque’s Oxford headquarters, with actors and members of the production team as honored guests. Classic Mini owners were also in attendance, and, yes, they brought some very cool cars. A precision driving team even reproduced some of the movie’s driving stunts.

Speaking of cool cars, none of the original Minis used in the filming of The Italian Job have survived, as they were destroyed during and after filming, but for the event, MINI rounded up a trio of authentic replicas of the Mk I Minis that were in the movie. Also, for the first time since they were on the set a half-century ago, the actual Jaguar E-Type, Aston Martin DB4 convertible, and Lamborghini Miura that appeared in the film were all in the same place at the same time. The Miura, which had dropped from sight over the years, made its first public appearance following its restoration after recently being verified as the authentic movie car.

If you missed the event, don’t worry, as MINI has provided dozens of great photos of the red, white, and blue Italian Job replicas, including action shots of the little cars racing around the Oxford factory.