A classic Mini was turned into a gaming station (19 photos + 1 video)

A very interesting lot was sold at the Car&Classic auction in the form of the most unusual version of the classic Austin Mini. The 1974 car was styled like the Mini from the 1969 film The Italian Job and was completely rendered incapable of movement. Instead, the Mini became an advanced, highly immersive gaming simulator.





The car, in its signature blue color, is decorated with authentic chrome inserts, and its registration plate code refers to the plot of the film: this is the number of the flight on which the main characters were supposed to fly in the finale. The Mini's trunk contains imitation gold bars.

At the same time, the car is deprived of both the chassis and the power unit. In the engine compartment there is a powerful computer with an Intel i7 12700 processor with liquid cooling and an RTX 3080ti video card. Instead of a display, a screen with a viewing angle of 180 degrees is used, the image of which is transmitted by a 4K projector.

Deep immersion is achieved through a system of sensors that synchronize the movements of the Mini's controls with what is happening on the screen. In essence, the car has been turned into a gamepad: the car on a computer track responds both to movements of the steering wheel and to pressing the pedals and shifting the gearbox lever. All controls are equipped with feedback, and the driver's seat is mounted on a suspension with several degrees of freedom - it can simulate overloads during acceleration, braking and cornering.

The Mini's front panel features built-in fans that create a feeling of rushing air, and an advanced audio system with a subwoofer that further enhances the realism.

The gaming station is said to have been created for home use by an engineer who does this professionally - he builds simulators of various vehicles, from cars to airplanes, for both entertainment and research.