Foxtons
JV said:
Round and about in London the MINI's in BRG with Gold and green union jacks on the roof are all owned by Foxtons estate agents (they're company cars)...
JV, thanks I think you have solved the MINI mystery!
I checked their website
www2.foxtons.co.uk and found a couple of pics of their cars and they have an article in their magazine regarding the MINI.
Paul M - they should sponsor MINI2 with a banner ad!
Cheers
Garry
*******
Here is an extract:
Big Impression
The Mini is back and better than ever
Over the forthcoming weeks and months, you may come across the Foxtons brand in a very different way. London's estate agent has invested in 200 branded Mini Coopers. Chosen for its high quality, performance and excellent fuel economy, the Mini Cooper is ideal for day to day use in heavy London traffic and perfect for Foxtons who have 10 offices throughout the capital. In keeping with 1960's London tradition, Foxtons' Mini Coopers have been personalised, with styling cues taken from its racing heritage.
Britain's favourite small car has long been associated with London for its style, chic and, of course, its dimensions which make it the ultimate car about town - squeezing into that matchbox-sized parking space is no longer a problem.
It's actually not common knowledge that when the original Mini first arrived back in 1959, it was far from being an immediate success. Designer Sir Alec Issigonis' new small car was viewed with considerable trepidation among the-then very conservative car-buying public. However, the arrival of the sporty Cooper and its adoption by London's 'Chelsea set' of the time such as Twiggy, Peter Sellers and Mary Quant, saw its success assured. Anyone who was anyone in 1960's London had a Mini and the epitome of cool was to customise it further with their own personalised style - such as wickerwork doors, a feature on Sellers' Mini.
The name of the Mini Cooper was to become etched on the hearts of motorsport fans too, when it won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally and the likes of Paddy Hopkirk and John Cooper would become household names. As would the Mini itself. In fact it's estimated that 9 out of 10 people in the UK have either owned, or been driven in, a Mini at some point in their lives - a boast that few other cars can even approach let alone match. Young or old, rich or poor, the Mini always had a totally classless image that meant anyone could feel at home behind the wheel.
Fast forward to today and under the bonnet of the sporty Cooper model is a 1.6-litre engine with 115bhp capable of 0 to 60mph in 9.2 seconds and a 125mph top speed. But that performance is offset against an excellent level of fuel economy (an everyday average of well over 30mpg) - an all-important factor given London's busy streets.
But even the briefest of periods behind the steering wheel of the new Mini will convince you that this is the perfect car for the city. Rapid steering and throttle response means that it offers a driving experience like no other small car on the road today. The stylish and solid interior only underlines its safe and wide stance on the road, limpeted to the tarmac like a boiled sweet to your favourite jumper.
For the development of the livery, Foxtons employed Bear Design to take on the project. The intention was to create a scheme that was sympathetic to the integrity of the Mini yet embraced the car's individual charm and style. Logo references were kept deliberately subtle, the overall objective being for the Mini to be noticed and not its branding. An interesting concept for what is essentially a marketing exercise, however the heritage of the Mini is simply too great. It is only upon closer inspection that you can spot the tongue-in-cheek humour of the GB-style badge on the boot which, in Foxtons' case, denotes the location each car operates in; MAY for Mayfair, FUL for Fulham and so on.
Judging by the feedback from clients, the acknowledging responses from other Mini owners and the smiles from other drivers and pedestrians alike, the project has undoubtedly achieved its aim. Mini, we love you!