Aug 8

Michael Nesmith was a Cooper Mini Fan

I am not a fan of social media unless it is about cars. But I learned something new today. And it combined two things that I love. Mini Coopers and the Monkees. Back in July 1967, Michael Nesmith picked up his custom-built Radford Mini Cooper S in London. It was the most expensive Mini anyone had ever made at the time. Something like 40k. He ordered it right when the band was huge, and they loaded the thing up with all the latest high-tech gadgets and fancy luxury upgrades, turning it into a proper one-of-a-kind ride.

1 / 2

Aug 8, 2026

Reply to rjones…

Replies (21)

· Aug 8

Supposedly it was fitted with a Halda speed pilot and at least 25 independent switches with warning lights.
The hood was modified for better ventilation of the 1275cct power unit, tuned by Taurus and said to deliver 100bhp while being as silent as a Rolls-Royce.

Zero to 60 mph could be achieved in 7secs round, 90mph took just 20secs.

· Aug 8

Mike's wife Phillis with the car.

· Aug 8

Did not know that. I new that Michael's mom invented white out and made a lot of money. Also that he was the only real musician in the cast.

(edited)

· Aug 8

Love it. The Cooper 1275S is the one to have. Interesting that his car was a 1967, I thought they went to roll up windows/ vent window doors in 1969. Maybe that was customized.

· Aug 8

Fun fact, I saw the Monkees in concert in Nov 1986 at the Centrum (now DCU Center) in Worcester Mass. Mickey, Davey and Peter. Mike Nesmith did not participate in much of that tour.

· Aug 9

Peter Tork was still touring into the 90s. Maybe longer. I saw him in a relatively small club maybe 30 years ago. He was actually pretty good. Although I don’t remember a lot about that night.

· Aug 9

Back in 1980 at the Paddock, South Sioux City, Nebraska I saw Peter and I think what he called the "new monkees". I was young and drunk so I remember nothing. But I was there!!!

· Aug 9

20 years ago I worked with a guy whose cousin toured with Peter in the 90s. 3rd person innuendo so I won't repeat the stories but there were a few.

· Aug 8

Not fun fact, I remember thinking how old those guys were at that point. Davey just turned 40, Mikey was 41 and Peter was 43.

· Aug 8

It was definitely a better looking example than George Harrison’s Radford Mini.

· Aug 10

I would expect an Englishman like George Harrison to have a Mini (or a RR). Michael Nesmith was a suprise. I did google George's car and I like it.

· Aug 10

I like Paul’s Mini better. The Aston taillights are a nice touch.

1 / 2

· Aug 10

Seems like the Mini was the car to have if you were a British Rock star!!!!

· Aug 9

Had to google what the Monkees was.

· Aug 9

What?!

· Aug 9

35 year old youngster. Remember Travis, you hang out with old geezers so you are old beyond your age.

· Aug 9

That is true. In all fairness, I’m just barely old enough to remember reruns of the show in the 80’s so I may be right at the cutoff of where people stop knowing who they were.

· Aug 9

I think you need to be about 50 to have any idea. Maybe late 40s. I'm forgiving of the youngsters that don't know what they missed!

· Aug 10

Monkees had some heavy duty song writers including Neil Diamond and Carole King to name a couple.

· Aug 17

I think Don Kirshner had something to do with it too.