The Italian Job Minis in the City Gallery, with the Lord Mayor's Coach behind. Image courtesy of Museum of London
Three original Mini Coopers, some of the coolest cars ever captured on film, have moved into the Museum of London this week. The cars are on loan from theitalianjobminis.com, and are used by Paramount Pictures to promote the classic 1969 film, The Italian Job.
The 1960s Mini Coopers are on display in the museum's City Gallery, the space usually occupied by the Lord Mayor's fantastic gold State Coach. While the coach is out getting ready for the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday 13 November, these cheeky replicas have moved in.
(If you've seen the film, you won't be surprised that none of the actual cars survive. These are lovingly restored 1960s models, very similar to those used in the movie.)
The temporary display honours the South London-born star of The Italian Job, Sir Michael Caine, who opened the new Galleries of Modern London at the museum earlier this year.
Fans of the film will know it's more Londony than its title suggests, with shots of 1960s London including Wormwood Scrubs, Notting Hill, Queensway and the London Wall (remember that dawn milk-float ride?) near where the Museum of London now stands.
We think it's a great idea to fill the space temporarily left vacant by the Lord Mayor's Coach. And as the show is an annual occurrence, surely there's a chance to turn this into a regular thing? Suggestions for other old vehicles you'd like to see on display at the museum in the future in the comments below, please.
The Italian Job Minis are in the Museum of London's City Gallery until 14 November. Entrance to see them is free.
