Classic Car Road Trip

Three Classic Minis on a road trip from the Netherlands to Longbridge in England

Three Classic Minis set off on a six-day road trip, travelling from the Netherlands to Longbridge in England to join the Mini's 50th anniversary celebrations at the International Mini Meeting (IMM) 2009. Our journey took us through Belgium to Dunkirk in France, where we caught the ferry across the English Channel to Dover. After an overnight stay in the small town of Chertsey, just 30 km south-west of London, we continued our journey to Longbridge, a suburban area in south-west Birmingham, close to the historic Longbridge factory, the original home of the Mini.

We set up camp in Cofton Park, which served as the perfect festival area and was also an ideal base for a few day trips. We visited the birthplace of the renowned English playwright and poet William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the childhood home of his wife. From Longbridge, we drove in our Classic Mini to the Iron Bridge, situated about 30 km north-west of Birmingham. The bridge was constructed between 1779 and 1781 and remains one of the most iconic landmarks in Great Britain. We also visited the Chirk Aqueduct and the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct; these imposing monumental structures were designed by the civil engineer Thomas Telford at the beginning of the 19th century. The Chirk Railway Viaduct, which runs parallel to the Chirk Aqueduct, was designed later by the civil engineer Henry Robertson. These architectural highlights provided a wonderful contrast to the celebrations at Longbridge.

After the IMM, we visited Blenheim Palace, a renowned, impressive country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Our last stop in England was Canterbury, where we visited the amazing cathedral, as well as St. Martin's Church and St. Augustine's Abbey. After visiting Canterbury, we took the Dover to Dunkirk ferry, and after reaching France we drove back to the Netherlands. Over the years, we have visited England many times, but this was the first time in a Classic Mini. After a journey of almost 2,000 km, we arrived home safely.

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1. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: Somewhere in Belgium on our six-day journey from the Netherlands to Longbridge, near Birmingham in England. Three Classic Minis on a road trip to attend the Mini 50th anniversary celebrations at the International Mini Meeting (IMM). We drove from our home in the Netherlands through Belgium to Dunkirk in France to cross the English Channel by ferry.

2. 

   After several hours on the road, our Mini Monza was at the Dunkirk to Dover ferry, ready to board the ship. After several traffic jams in Belgium, we arrived just in time to board the ferry. We were looking forward to seeing the coast of England and the White Cliffs of Dover from the English Channel once again.

3. 

   Heading to England in style; The three Classic Minis, all belonging to our immediate family, on board the car ferry from Dunkirk to Dover. Numerous other Classic Minis and their owners were also on board, on their way to the IMM in Longbridge. The crossing of the English Channel took about two hours. When we arrived in England, a few hours' drive brought us to the medieval market town of Chertsey for an overnight stay.

4. 

   Following in the tyre tracks of the first Mini: Five Classic Minis from the Netherlands at the IMM campsite at Cofton Park in Longbridge, a district southwest of the English city of Birmingham. Without a doubt, Longbridge is the most important location in the history of the Mini, because the very first one was manufactured at the Longbridge car plant in 1959. The campsite was situated near this historic plant.

5. 

   The Heritage Run from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon in Warwickshire to the IMM at Longbridge: Fifty Minis of various ages took this scenic and historic route to the birthplace of the Mini to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The oldest Mini present was manufactured in 1959; there was a Mini from every single production year in this legendary run. This photo shows the arrival of the first Classic Minis at the IMM at Longbridge.

6. 

   A Mini Wildgoose campervan, built in the 1960s, shown here at the IMM in Longbridge, England. To build this extraordinary camper, a Mini van and a conversion kit were needed. These kits were produced in limited numbers by the Wildgoose Company in Worthing, Sussex, England. Today, only twelve Mini Wildgoose campervans are known to exist. They are widely considered one of the most unique and iconic campervans in the world.

7. 

   On our six-day classic car road trip through England, we visited the Shakespeare House, the family home of the famous English playwright and poet William Shakespeare. This 16th-century half-timbered house is situated in Stratford-upon-Avon, a historic market town in Warwickshire. William Shakespearee was born here in 1564 and spent his childhood years in this house.

8. 

   Anne Hathaway's Cottage in the village of Shottery, about 1.6 km west of Stratford-upon-Avon, was one of the destinations on our road trip. The 15th-century thatched-roofed cottage was the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, the later wife of William Shakespeare; she was born here in 1556. William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married in 1582, when he was 18 and she was 26 years old.

9. 

   An unforgettable road trip to the 50th anniversary of the Mini: The International Mini Meeting (IMM) in Longbridge was organised by the Birmingham Mini Owners Club. From all over Europe, over 6,000 Classic Minis and New MINIs and their owners had gathered on the grounds of Cofton Park in Longbridge to celebrate the milestone in the history of this iconic little wonder.

10. 

    From Longbridge, our road trip brought us to the Iron Bridge. This outstanding construction is located about 30 kilometres northwest of Birmingham near the border between England and Wales. The bridge is situated in the narrow Severn Valley and was built over the River Severn between 1779 and 1781. Nowadays, the Iron Bridge is a monument and accessible on foot only. The church of the village of Ironbridge stands in the background. 

11. 

    The Iron Bridge is one of the most iconic images of Great Britain. It is the world's first bridge constructed of cast iron; no less than 379 tons of cast iron were used to build it. This was clearly over-engineered, as later bridges used much less cast iron. The unique structure spans the River Severn near the small town of Ironbridge in Shropshire, England. The Iron Bridge is considered a symbol of the Industrial Revolution.

12. 

    Our Classic Minis on the IMM campsite at Cofton Park in Longbridge, Birmingham, during our road trip through the south of England. Longbridge is the birthplace of the Mini. The Classic Mini is considered an important icon of the 1960s. In 1999, it was voted the second-most influential car of the 20th century, after the Ford Model T.

13. 

    A narrowboat on the Llangollen Canal, crossing the Chirk Aqueduct; the railway viaduct runs behind it. On our road trip, we drove to the Chirk Aqueduct and Railway Viaduct near the town of Chirk on the border between England and Wales. The Chirk Aqueduct was designed by the civil engineer Thomas Telford and completed in 1801, while the adjacent Chirk Railway Viaduct was designed more than 50 years later by the civil engineer Henry Robertson. 

14. 

    The imposing Chirk Aqueduct; behind this stone structure lies the Chirk Railway Viaduct. The aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the Ceiriog Valley. The stone arched structure is 220 metres long and 21 metres high. The Llangollen Canal is 73.5 kilometres long. This canal and the historic narrowboats navigating it are major tourist attractions in Wales, Great Britain.

15. 

    The renowned Pontcysyllte Aqueduct viewed from the Dee Valley. The aqueduct was designed by civil engineer Thomas Telford and opened in 1805. This impressive structure is the longest and highest stone and cast-iron aqueduct in Great Britain. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee, towering an imposing 38 metres above the river with a length of 307 metres and a width of 3.4 metres.

16. 

    Our Mini Monza in the staff car park at Blenheim Palace, one of the largest country houses in England. As visitors to Blenheim Palace and its gardens, we were exceptionally permitted to park our Classic Mini in the 'staff only' parking area. We felt truly privileged to have this unique experience during our classic car road trip.

17. 

    On our road trip through England in a Mini Monza, we visited Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. This magnificent palace is the birthplace of the renowned British statesman and wartime leader Winston Churchill. Although his parents did not live there, they were merely visiting family at the palace when he was born unexpectedly. Today, a permanent exhibition dedicated to Churchill can be found in a room adjacent to the Great Hall of this palace.

18. 

    The Queen's Pool and the Grand Bridge at Blenheim Palace. The water from this pool flows under the bridge to join the Great Lake. Blenheim Palace is situated in a vast landscaped park with woodlands and formal gardens. It is one of the largest country houses in England and the only non-royal house in the country to hold the title of palace. Visiting this palace at the golden hour was a great opportunity to stretch our legs during a Classic Mini road trip.

19. 

    A Classic Car Road Trip through England: Our Classic Mini in front of the Woodstock Gate, one of the main entrances to Blenheim Palace, with the Anglican parish church of St. Mary Magdalene to the left. The Woodstock Gate is also known as the Triumphal Arch. This impressive gateway is situated in the centre of Woodstock, a charming town 13 km northwest of Oxford.

20. 

    Canterbury was the final stop on our Classic Mini road trip through the south of England. We visited the renowned Canterbury Cathedral and the spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was originally interred, marked by an ever-burning candle. Archbishop Thomas Becket was brutally murdered within the cathedral in 1170. Shortly after his death, Canterbury Cathedral became the most important pilgrimage destination in Great Britain.

21. 

    Visiting Canterbury during our Classic Car Road Trip: The imposing tomb of the Black Prince is one of the most notable monuments in Canterbury Cathedral. Although the cathedral houses several historic tombs, the most striking is that of the Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales. He was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and was celebrated as one of the greatest warriors of medieval England.

22. 

    Returning home after a Classic Car Road Trip: Three Classic Minis waiting in line at the Port of Dover ferry terminal, ready to cross the English Channel from England to the Port of Dunkirk in France. Standing in front of the queue is our Tahiti Blue Mini Monza, a limited edition built in 1997 for export to Germany and the Netherlands.

23. 

    One of the Classic Minis on our road trip belonged to our youngest son. This Flame Red Mini 1000 HLE, constructed in 1989, stands here at the Dover ferry terminal, ready to board the ship for the two-hour crossing of the English Channel to France. In the background are the famous White Cliffs of Dover, which are considered a true symbol of Britain.

24. 

    The Classic Mini of our eldest son, a Denim Blue Mini 1000 HLE built in 1983, waiting in line at the ferry terminal in Dover to cross the English Channel. We took a road trip through England in three Classic Minis; the travelling party consisted of five members of our immediate family and a university friend.

25. 

    The White Cliffs of Dover and a stormy sea viewed from the ferry. After a very rough crossing and reaching France, we drove back to the Netherlands. Over the years, we have visited England many times, but this was our first time in a Classic Mini. After an almost 2,000-kilometre road trip, we arrived home safely.