Anyone remember the Mini which occasionally featured in the CHiPs TV show (1977-1983) about the adventures of two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers?
Here in the UK as a young Mini enthusiast it was a big surprise at the time to see a Mini driving around in California on a US tv show.
I seem to remember Ponch (Erik Estrada) used to call Jon Bakers (Larry Wilcox) Mini a shoebox!
I wonder if that Mini still exists?
Also does anyone know what episodes it appeared in and if they are on dvd?

 

LOL what is on the roof of that mini?

 

I thought the same, looked like an air scoop or something but on closer inspection I think it's just a 70's aluminium framed glass sunroof/hatch tilted open?
Also it has Mk1 Austin Cooper S bonnet badge but a Mk2/3 Benelite Spotlight grille.

 

Do you really want me to start listing the episodes of that show you can find the Classics in?

Season one is on DVD, Season two gets released in June; I'm hoping that they will release all the seasons.

 

it looks like a weird sunroof to me

 

It's just a pop top sunroof, that's not the best pic of it but actually looks decent from other angles and makes sense for LA in a car w/out A/C

 

I did not recall that! Wow. I was seven in 1977 and lived to watch that show (among others)...I can't believe John had a Mini. Go figure.

Thanks for bringing that up; it's like smelling salts for my subconscious.

 

I can't believe I'm doing this, but here's the CHiPS page from the Internet Movie Car Database. Enjoy! http://www.imcdb.org/movie_75488-CHiPs.html

 

Thanks! More photos of that Mini!

 

Hi, You can find Jons Mini in 2 episodes that I can think of right now which are available on season 1 of CHiPs on DVD. They are Dog Gone, and Undertow.
If I remember more I will let you know.

 

LOL I should've kown that... i have one on my Mini.

 

Awesome! CHiPs has a website too, with pics and videos and sounds...

CHiPs Online

 

this thread is twisted.

 

 

I think the CHiPs forum needs our help...............

Question:
"? about Jon's car"
What kind of car did Jon drive? I'm referring to his personal vehicle. Not the truck, the one before that. Apparently, it was right hand drive, but that's all I know. Year, make, and model is preferred.

Reply:
The little yellow one? I can't remember what they are called. They must have been European with the steering wheel on the right.

Reply:
Car was an Austin/Morris Mini Cooper. The car remained unchanged for years, so identifying model year is difficult. Hope it helps!

 

There is also an appearance of a Blue Mini backing out of a parking space in a parking lot they pursue someone through. I'll make some notations the next time I watch season one and post them up. (Covered the whole season at least 6 times since mid summer)

I can see where some people would be hesitant to identify some of the small cars, to the average uneducated person that wasn't of driving age while the show aired it wouldn't be as easy for them to spot and identify the differences between the Fiats and Alfas.

 

i was excited to hear about the imcdb.org but then i looked up Mini and it didn't even list either Italian Job. Lost all cred with me!

EDIT: Ooops! My bad. There's 11 pages of Minis. It's there. Nevermind, nothing to see here.

 

At last look they didn't list a Mini in the Spielberg film Munich. There was a bracken Mini in one of the scenes that was supposed to be France. ICMDb can be a great way to ease boredom.