You may be familiar with the story of famed 60s rally driver Paddy Hopkirk, who in 1964 won the grueling Monte Carlo rally against all odds, at the wheel of a one-liter Mini Cooper. He faced stiff opposition from many other drivers in much more sophisticated and powerful motors, but he eventually triumphed as the story goes.

XCARrecently uploaded videos that reenact part of the heroic race, including the location where the trophies were handed out at Casino Square, in Monaco. The transport of choice is a naturally-aspirated convertible rental new MINI with an automatic gearbox.

However, it’s not really about the car, and more about the stories and old photos that they show in the relevant context, the ones that remind us that things were very different, and by things we mostly mean racing.

Check out the videos after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

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