Built for the Frankfurt Motor Show as the ‘fastest accelerating road-going Mini’, this car was to help publically reinforce Rover’s heritage whilst having no new models to unveil.

The Hot Rod was designed to embrace the individuality and dynamism of the Mini brand whilst following the traditions of the customised Mini car. Spice was provided by a race-bred 16-valve twin-cam version of the trusty A-series engine, producing a heady 160 bhp that was once described as having ‘nuclear ferocity’ by Jeremy Clarkson on an episode of Top Gear.

The engine is coupled to a straight-cut, five-speed gearbox with a quick-change assembly, enabling racing style gear changes. Inside, a roll cage and front bucket seats have been fitted, the rear seats removed and the interior faced in aluminium sheet. A racing steering wheel has push buttons to replace stalk controls and a racing style toggle key with a push button start are also provided.

Externally, the car is largely standard but to help enhance the motorsport aesthetic, it has a paint scheme based on the British Racing Motors (BRM) works colours that were featured on BRM’s Formula One racing cars of the 1960s and early 1970s.