Taking part in yesterday’s ‘Creme 21 Youngtimer Rally’ in Spa, was a very special Mini, better known for its role in the British comedy series, Mr. Bean.
The Mini 1000 Mark III in its vibrant ‘Citron’ yellow paintwork was built in 1974, but it wasn’t until 1990 until it starred in its first television show alongside car enthusiast Rowan Atkinson in the Mr. Bean series.
A total of 14 episodes of the series were filmed between 1989 and 1995, in which the character played by Atkinson had several comic adventures and near misses behind the wheel of his distinctive black-bonneted yellow Mini. Perhaps most famously when he decided to drive on the roof of the car, operating the throttle with a broom..
There’s now a replica of Mr. Bean’s Mini on display at the National Motor Museum in the village of Beaulieu, England, while the original car is maintained (and occasionally loaned out) by BMW Group’s Classic collection.
It’s powered by a 4-cylinder, 1.0 litre engine delivering 34 bhp but during its TV career it received several ‘modifications’ — It has a detachable steering wheel and a padlock, vital to Mr. Bean in ensuring that he never became separated from his favourite four-wheeled friend, while a Teddy keeps an eye on proceedings from inside the dashboard.
The Creme 21 circuit is Europe’s biggest annual ‘youngtimer’ rally, and is named after the 1970s cult cosmetics range. Each year it leads participants through some of Germany’s most spectacular countryside, covering 1000 kilometres across seven stages between 25th and 29th September.
The starting grid for this year’s event included 180 cars built between 1970 and 1990.
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