While audiences only ever see three MINIs do the stunts (a red, blue, and white MINI Cooper), there were actually 32 vehicles used during production. There was also a repair crew always on hand to fix injured MINIs ASAP, as the MINIs tended to get damaged doing the stunts.

How many Minis did they use in The Italian Job?

32 Minis were used throughout the shooting. A MINI with two steering wheels was used for some of the shooting in order that a stunt driver could drive the car whilst one of the actors performed in front of the camera.

How much did MINI Cooper pay to be in The Italian Job?

From Newsweek: So far, summer's best product placement the too-cute Mini Coopers in The Italian Job didn't cost the car company a penny. BMW just turned over the keys to 32 of its British bulldogs, and agreed to let the studio demolish them during the elaborate chase scenes.

What happened to the Minis used in The Italian Job?

Some were destroyed in the hands of Remy Julienne's brilliant stunt drivers in the UK – either at the Crystal Palace circuit or during the tunnel chase sequence (filmed in the West Midlands) – and the rest in Italy. To this day, the fate of the Minis that survived the film remains unclear.

Who really drove the Minis in The Italian Job?

The camera car was a Mini Moke that preceded the Coopers, and was driven by one of Rémy Julienne's team. Remy was excited about the scene, as he wanted to complete a 360º barrel roll, essentially getting the Cooper upside down on the ceiling of the sewer.

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Did Mini Cooper sales go up after The Italian Job?

The US market also saw a 20 percent increase in sales after the movie's premiere, which signaled to the world – and all those who might have doubted the new MINI – that there was no need to worry.

Was it a real Aston Martin destroyed in The Italian Job?

Aston Martin DB4

An initial hiccup with explosives caused damage to the DB4, and with no replacement available, the crew got creative. They used a Lancia Flaminia Convertible as a stand-in, disguising it as the DB4 for the cliff-dive scene.

Was the Aston Martin destroyed in Italian jobs?

So, the Aston Martin was supposed to be thrown over and explode as it went down. Unfortunately, the special effects went off before it was thrown over the cliff and it blew up in front of us. So, we were on a tight schedule and had to reshoot the scene, but we didn't have a DB4.

Who owns Mini Cooper today?

While owned by BMW, MINI Cooper hatchbacks and other vehicles are produced by MINI, which still exists as its own entity.

How many Minis were destroyed in The Italian Job?

All sixteen Cooper S used in the filming of the Italian Job were also destroyed during filming, many ending up on their roofs and damaged beyond repair during the sewer tunnel stunts.

What movie made Mini Coopers famous?

Perhaps responsible for the Mini's rise to fame, was the 1969 action-adventure film; The Italian Job. The red, white and blue trio of Mini Coopers, festooned with accessory lights, were famously raced down the Italian streets, pavements and sewers in a bid to escape the team of Mafia killers in hot pursuit.

Who made Mini Cooper famous?

In 1961, the humble little people-mover fell into the hands of British racing legend John Cooper. A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks later, the Classic MINI Cooper 997 was introduced. And a rally demon was born.

What city was The Italian Job filmed in?

The chase sequences were filmed in Turin, except for the chase through the sewer tunnel, which was shot in the Sowe Valley Sewer Duplication system in the Stoke Aldermoor district of Coventry in the English Midlands, filmed from the back of a Mini Moke.

What were the three fast cars in The Italian Job?

As the opening credits roll, the audience is greeted by a parade of automotive legends. Including the suave Jaguar E-Type, the agile Aston Martin DB4, and the iconic Lamborghini Miura. These cars, each a symbol of the era's automotive opulence, set the tone for what's to come.

What happened to the E-type Jags in The Italian Job?

Jaguar E-Type

In addition to the DB4, two Jaguar E-Types are included in Croker's getaway plan. The cars are a black fixed head Coupe and red roadster. Like the DB4, they are destroyed by the Mafia and pushed off a cliff. Not much is known about the black coupe, but the 3.8L roadster is still around today.

Did they wreck a real Lamborghini in The Italian Job?

For a time people thought the producers had destroyed a perfectly good Miura, but it was soon established they'd used two - a pre-crashed Miura the factory had laying around, and an identical, pristine example plucked straight from the production line.

What Ferrari was in The Italian Job?

Miura #3586, finished in orange with a white amd black leather interior, was the car featured in the iconic opening scene of the 1969 film The Italian Job, and it has now been fully restored by Lamborghini's own factory restoration program, called Polo Storico. The story behind the car is compelling.

What happened to the bus in The Italian Job?

The iconic final scene from The Italian Job before the bus started a new life away from the silver screen. After the film, the bus had its rear doors welded shut and was converted back into a passenger vehicle that operated in Blackpool, Liverpool and later Kirriemuir.

Where was the final scene of The Italian Job filmed?

Two artificial lakes, Serrù Lake and Agnel Lake, are located immediately below the pass. Location of the Nivolet Pass in the Alps. The approach road from Agnel Lake was the location of several scenes in the film The Italian Job, including the iconic final bus crash.

Was there a sequel to The Italian Job?

While The Italian Job's unresolved ending has helped cement its place in movie history, Michael Deeley is still disappointed a sequel was never made. “I was always very happy with the idea that we would make another film but it just didn't happen,” he said.

Was The Italian Job filmed in Turin?

Often cited as one of the best British films ever made, The Italian Job is a classic comedy caper filmed primarily on location in Turin in 1968, and first released in cinemas in 1969.

Are Mini Coopers still being built?

Coopers with combustion engines will continue to be built in Oxford, U.K. The Mini Cooper two-door with a hardtop and internal combustion engine will be available in the U.S. in the first half of 2024. The four-door hardtop and ICE will follow in the second half of the year.

Are Mini Coopers still being manufactured?

As of November 2022 production, MINI USA announced the return of manuals in its Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works 2-door hardtops. MINI is now pleased to announce four additional models that will be available with a manual transmission. They include: MINI Cooper Convertible.

How much did the gold bar weigh in the Italian job?

According to Wikipedia, the total weight of gold bars moved by the three cars in the film -- around 3200 kg -- would have required each car to carry around 1070 kg of gold in the trunk.