Charity Auction for George's New Mini

[FPSHOT]

This is sooo cool.

MINI has come up with a fresh interpretation of George's original Mini to coincide with the brand's 50th birthday. The one-off model was handed over to Olivia at the MINI United event. Olivia accepted the Mini on behalf of the Material World Charitable Foundation, a charity set up by George in 1973. The car will be auctioned in aid of the Foundation later in the year.

MINI United - the world's biggest fan event - took place at Silverstone in the UK on 22 - 24 May 2009. The festival delivered three days of non-stop entertainment for the brand's large fan community. MINI United is all about concerts, shows, car races etc., and provided the perfect stage on which to showcase the unique new MINI inspired by George Harrison.

Back in 1966 The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein gave each of the Fab Four a Mini Cooper S as a gift. In keeping with the zeitgeist of the time, lead guitarist George had his car painted with psychedelic images such as yantras and Sanskrit mantras. In 1967 this legendary Mini starred in The Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour. And now, to coincide with its latest landmark anniversary, MINI has dedicated a modern interpretation of George's car to the man himself.

The MINI has been designed according to the wishes of Olivia Harrison and rekindles the look of George's famous original. "George was a huge MINI fan and he would have enjoyed creating this new version. The fact that BMW' s anniversary celebrations will also benefit our Foundation has made it an enjoyable as well as meaningful collaboration." Olivia Harrison.

There is a full presentation with pictures here

http://www.georgeharrison.com/mini/index.html

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q97/handset/georgeharrisonmini2.jpg

[sourmilkpinky]

grabby grabby hands!

[Lucy]

Here's the other thread on it (before the full presentation that has now been released....thanks FPSHOT!) just in case anyone is interested!

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=37942

I love it, so so cute and such a great idea. Wish I had one.

[FPSHOT]

I know Lucy there was a previous thread about the Mini - I even posted on it - yet this is an official statement from the Harrisons and about the charity event, that is why I made it a separate thread.

[Lucy]

Yeah I know and realise that...and that is why I said that the previous thread was before the full presentation and that I was posting it only if others might have been interested.

I wasn't trying to catch you out or anything or make out it was old news...and I had hoped that my post had made that clear (I even thanked you for drawing the full and official presentation to our attention) but alas! So much appears to be lost in words alone!!

[FPSHOT]

No worries Lucy :smile1: what is important is that we have all these nice things coming from the Harrisons.

[beatlebangs1964]

That car is safe from me!

I have to laugh - for a dude known for his privacy, that car DOES make a statement. Not exactly the discreet sedan on the street, now is it? :laugh5:

[Lucy]

what is important is that we have all these nice things coming from the Harrisons.

We seem to have had many things from them lately - I hope the pace stays up!

[FPSHOT]

Olivia took George's original 1966 Mini to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend in Chichester, England

http://twitpic.com/9g020

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/88848577/Getty-Images-Entertainment

[beatlebangs1964]

Now how on earth was George
going to drive that weirdly
painted car and expect to go
unnoticed?

Too bad he did not have a
really serious 1966 Dodge
Dart 270 (now THAT was
a really good car) or an
equally cool 1966 Dodge
Coronet 500 (a damn good
Chrysler, a very serious
Dodge indeed). He would
have been driving some-
thing solid and dependable
and blended in nicely into
the commuter crowd.