First built in 1959 in the Midlands, the Mini shot to stardom in the 1960s, becoming the car of choice for, among others, Twiggy, Mick Jagger and The Beatles. And, according to club secretary Leanne Ward, it deserves its many enthusiasts.

She said: "We are keen to add to our 30-odd members. It's an exciting year and we will be getting involved in a packed calendar of events across Warwickshire and countrywide."

Produced at the MG Rover Group factory in Longbridge until 2000, the car has strong ties with Warwickshire. AP Lockheed, once Leamington's largest employer, played a major part in the Mini's development. The Tachbrook Road firm designed and produced front disc brakes - then the smallest of their type in the world - for the first Mini-Coopers and later supplied an automatic gearbox that broke new engineering ground. The Heritage Motor Centre, which has several examples of the car, including all three Monte Carlo Rally-winning Cooper S models, is hosting its own Mini festival in July, as well as a special ‘50 years of the Mini’ exhibition.

A somewhat unlikely candidate for the spotlight, the buzz around the Mini surprised original designer Sir Alec Issigonis, who, in the wake of the 1956 Suez Crisis and petrol rationing, had built the car purely with practicality, affordability and fuel economy in mind.

Ten years after being introduced, it was immortalised in the cult film The Italian Job, twisting stylishly through the streets of Turin.

Today, more five million Minis have been sold, making it by far the most popular British car ever made. Leanne said: "The Mini is a classic, cute, charming car, and has become a British icon."

The Leamington Mini Massive club is eager to show they are not a bunch of grumpy Mini purists. Leanne added: "We aren't just a club for old Mini owners.

“There are members with the new BMW Mini models too. We welcome not just people who have a Mini themselves, but anyone with an interest."

And she believes the older models may outlast the newer - at least in terms of her group’s affections.

Leanne said: “Because of complicated electronics and more sophisticated parts, Minis produced today are more difficult to customise - a large part of the appeal of owning a Mini.

“The older models are easier to work on, and I think they will always be the favourites.”

The club meets at 8pm every Wednesday at The Queen's Head in Cubbington. To find out more visit:

www.minimassive.co.uk

Dan Douglas