Even Mini wants in on 911 50th

BMW, via Mini, joins the celebrations for the Porsche's half century ... nor us

By Matt Bird / Thursday, 6 June 2013 / Loading comments

Just in case

Stuttgart's low-key, muted celebrations

for the

Porsche 911's 50th birthday

have slipped under the radar, Mini is now also keen to mark the occasion with a birthday message.

The similarities are obvious ... um ... aren't they?

In an attempt to show us its PR people aren't totally loopy, BMW, via Mini, has highlighted a few parallels shared between the world's best-known sports car and its best-known city car. Like the Mini, the 911 is 'a similarly compelling work of art characterised by a similar reluctance to abandon the exuberance of youth.' All very similar you see, despite a few minor differences. Like engine location, driven wheels, cylinders, nationality...

Both companies have certainly plundered the heritage and styling cues of these legendary cars and, euphemistically, applied their 'influence' in increasingly tenuous ways. According to Mini, the Panamera and Cayenne 'broke through similarly symbolic boundaries as the Countryman and Paceman'.

So happy birthday Porsche 911, from Mini and from car fans the world over. Should you wish to personally congratulate the 911, a small gathering will be held at Goodwood next month. Now Porsche, we've all had some fun with this birthday, where's the GT3...