36 replies to this topic

[giner88]

Cant seem to find anything on this on here or on google. Where do the classic bonnet stripes originate from? I thought maybe coopers in the 60's had them but I can't seem to find any. Although I think I have seen a few with full bonnet straps. Is this where the stripes come into it? And were the late 90s minis the only minis to have them fitted in production? Or were they on older coopers? I'm sure sumone on here will know and hopefully you will share it with me.

Cheers guys

Edited by Deathrow, 27 September 2011 - 11:07 PM.
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[giner88]

Come on someone must know something? Please share lol

Edited by Deathrow, 27 September 2011 - 11:07 PM.
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[Cooperman]

On the Tour de France Rally in the mid 60's the event had several race tracks as well as mountain pass special stages.
That was in the days before RT between cars and pits, so in order to identify which driver/car was where from a distance the 3 works Minis had bonnet stripes. One car had just one on the left, one had one on the right and the 3rd had two. The drivers were Paddy hopkirk, Timo Makinen and Rauno Altonen. I'm not sure which driver had which stripe arrangement.
The stripes were not used on any other rallies as they were not necessary.

[giner88]

Ahhhh that makes sense thanks. So why do people use the stripes? I don't think I have seen anyone running with 1 stripe?

Edited by Deathrow, 27 September 2011 - 11:08 PM.
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[Kam]

I would imagine alot of people run the 'stripes' on the bonnet to replicate the leather straps as used on the early coopers, I'm sure there is some silly driving law regarding having two leather straps with buckles on the bonnet as they are not very pedestrian friendly should a pedestrian decide to 'glide' over your bonnet one day.....but I'm sure there are minis out there on the road with straps and buckles.....

[gronkjor]

Weren't the old Cooper racing cars fitted with white stripes?

[mrbridger]

http://en.wikipedia....r_indy_1961.jpg

[giner88]

thanks mrbridger so i'm guessing the white stripes are cooper stripes then? i'm confused now lol

Edited by Deathrow, 27 September 2011 - 11:08 PM.
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[Bungle]

i thought it came from minis saloon car racing

[Cooperman]

I think the Tour de France in 1964 was where they first appeared for identification purposes, then others decided they look good and painted them on. They do look good too.

[coopdog]

i hate them :L

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

John Coopers Grand prix cars driven by the likes of Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss sported bonnet stripes long before they were seen on Minis.

There's a LOT more to John Cooper than Minis. He was the first person to put the engine in the back of the car in Grand prix racing... allowing for a safer and more rigid car which was very encouraged by the then 'FIA' after all of the deaths in Formula 1. The cars have remained this layout right up until today....

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 27 September 2011 - 06:49 PM.

[giner88]

i like bonnet stripes but i took mine off a while back because i don't want to pretend i have a cooper. im a sprite owner and proud of it lol

Edited by Deathrow, 27 September 2011 - 11:09 PM.
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[Kam]

so i'm guessing the white stripes are cooper stripes then? i'm confused now lol

There Cooper stripes not Mini Cooper stripes, if that makes sense?

Its just alot of people think the two stripes on the bonnet replicate the old leather straps that the 60's mini cooper had, nothing wrong with that? if you ask people nowdays about a 'mini cooper' who don't really know about minis they will say about the two stripes down the bonnet.......

[muddd001]

don't see how leather straps replicate a vinyl stripe