VIDEO: MINI Cooper hits the water in Philly, then the magic happens

By Marcus Amick Published May 10, 2013

If you thought some of the fetes the MINI Cooper pulled off in the 2013 blockbuster, the “Italian Job,” were impressive− than wait to you get a load of the car’s most recent starring role.

As part of Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River being held this weekend, a boat version of the popular MINI Cooper is being featured as part of an annual collegiate rowing competition.

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The MINI Convertible boat, built by ACI Composites based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is making a star appearance at this weekend’s Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.

The brainchild of the MINI USA Eastern Region, the Mini Cooper boat was constructed last year as part of the automaker’s “Not Normal” sales event.

While less publicized, the one-of-a-kind boat was spotted earlier this year motoring up the Chicago River for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

“MINI is known for being unconventional, and add value to the event like the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is an opportunity to make a lasting impression with attendees, and add value to the event by further increasing its fun factor,” said Laura Towey, Regional Business Manager, MINI USA, according to MINI press release. “The MINI Convertible Boat’s appearance of actually motoring on water is so convincing that it provides guests with an amazing tale to share even after they’ve left the event.”

While the boat looks identical to the MINI Cooper and has some authentic MINI parts like the grille and headlights, the floater is actually a fiberglass mold of the car mounted to a boat hull.

The MINI Cooper’s four-cylinder engine has been replaced with a 6 horsepower outboard motor.

So, anybody up for a ride?

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…

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