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I wonder how many people you could squeeze in a Bini? Apparently the the record is four but they had to leave the doors open.
During the 2004 Athens Olympics an official record of 21 people in a BMW MINI was set. We had a pic and details in Issue 4 of TME. But, I would like to know if the car was standard or stripped of its seats and steering wheel, etc.
By the way, that film clip on British Pathe says 24 students, but if you listen carefully to it they say 24 inside the car and another two in the boot - so 26 in total. BMC Rosette had a story on that in their June 1963 issue.
Looking at the footage I notice that there are both guys and girls and they are all smiling.
The official Guiness World Record is currently 18 - all women - but that includes leaving all the seats in, the steering wheel and gearstick, and closing the doors for 5 seconds. It was done in a late model Mini and I reckon you could get at least one more person into an early Mk1 - with sliding windows, smaller seats and open dash.
They should do a challenge with the same group of people (for uniformity) into standard new MINI, 1990s Mini and Mk1 Mini and see where the most really can fit. I'm betting the Mk1.
But, what about a Mini Van?!
Who's up for it? There are a few rules that have to be followed according to GWR - including that the Mini must be mechanically standard (all seats, etc) and that the doors must be closed for minimum 5 seconds. All people must be at least 17 years old and at least 5 feet (1.524cm) tall - so that counts out kids and midgets. It does not count out lithe 17 yo contortionists.
Cheers,
Watto.
