50 years of the Mini

Jon Henley test drives one of the new breed of Minis Photograph: Guardian

A turbo charged Cooper S Photograph: Guardian

Graham and Jean Harper met while working in a Mini showroom, and were soon purchasing their first car together, shown here Photograph: Guardian

Here's Graham and Jean 33 years and about 20 Minis later Photograph: Guardian

Graham's collection of Mini memorabilia. He recalls knowing from the first test drive the cars were 'a bit special' Photograph: Guardian

Paddy Hopkirk with the Mini that won him the Monte Carlo rally, in a climate controlled bubble in his barn Photograph: Guardian

Actress Britt Ekland sitting on the Mini her husband Peter Sellers bought for her birthday in 1965, at the Radford Motor Company showroom Photograph: Getty

Taking a starring role in the Italian Job (1968) Photograph: PR

The Harpers' Mini windvane Photograph: Guardian