Oxford: Mini car factory to celebrate British car history

Attendees at this years National Drive It Day at the Mini Plant Oxford, will get together to celebrate three car models.

On Sunday, the plant is celebrating 50 years of the Rover SD1, 40 years of the Rover 800 and 25 years of the modern Mini, all which have been built at Cowley.

Organiser of the Oxford event Tanya Fields, a vintage car enthusiast, has been putting on events in Cowley since 2014, keeping the 112-year history of the plant alive.

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She said: “This year’s event is really for everybody, classic car drivers, the local community, past and present employees.

“The idea of the event is that it’s meant to be really accessible, and people can come and go as they like.”

A 1964 Rover MINI (Image: Tanya Fields)

The focus on Cowley’s car history comes as part of a wider, national Drive It Day, which was created by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs in 2005.

The date is set every year to be as close to the anniversary of the One Thousand Mile Trial, which took place on April 23, 1900, and saw leading motorists racing from London to Edinburgh and back at the advent of the car as we know it.

A total of 83 cars left from Grosvenor Place in London, with just 35 returning 11 days later to complete the historic race.

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The federation represents 500 clubs, all of which will be out and about in vintage cars on Sunday.

This year’s Drive It Day is aimed at fundraising for the NSPCC’s Childline Service, with attendees able to donate online or on the day.

There is also an opportunity for visitors to explore the plant and its dedicated museum, with a detailed history of the plants Mini production over the year.

Ms Fields will provide visitors with free tea, coffee and refreshments, the option to donate.

The 2001 Modern MINI’s on display (Image: Tanya Fields)

This year attendees will also see drone footage of cars spelling out the word Mini, with the plant hoping to get as many of their modern cars together to film the video.

Ms Fields added: “It’s so amazing we have the plant’s support for all these years, and they are so enthusiastic about joining in on Drive It Day.

“I think we are the only motor manufacturing production site that joins in with the national event so it’s really nice to see the local community get together.”

Organisers of the event also encourage classic car owners to bring their vehicles, not just Minis.