Mini Cooper Sport (1997) | Stolen Recovered Original | JJ Adams

“Stolen Recovered Original” – Mini Cooper Sport (1997)

Handmade Diorama Art by JJ Adams

JJ Adams puts a rebellious spin on a British motoring icon with the 1997 Mini Cooper Sport, transformed into a gritty, nostalgic relic as part of his “Stolen Recovered Original” series. This one-of-one diorama artwork captures the classic charm of the Mini, reimagined as a once-loved but now weathered and forgotten ride — left to the mercy of time, graffiti, and the streets.

Told through JJ’s personal and imaginative narrative — “What happened to my stolen car?” — this handcrafted piece features a 1:18 die-cast model, fully hand-painted and distressed with urban tagging, imitation rust, and natural overgrowth. Additional diorama elements, like faux flora and environmental textures, add cinematic realism to this urban art scene.

The vehicle is securely mounted to a custom plywood base, hand-painted to resemble cracked asphalt, and encased within a high-grade acrylic display case with a matte black base — merging collectible design with street-art attitude.

Every piece in this collection is a 1/1 certified original artwork, signed and authenticated by JJ Adams. There are no editions — just one, completely unique creation.

Following instant sell-outs of earlier releases like the Back to the Future DeLorean and Aston Martin DB5, this Mini adds a dose of nostalgic fun to JJ’s evolving series of sculptural automotive art.

A cult classic, rediscovered — the Mini, like you've never seen it before.