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Phil McNamara Group editor Sixty years old! 1962 saw the birth of the Ferrari 250 GTO, Lotus Elan, Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Ford Cortina. The Renault 8 – aboxy rear-drive saloon some 7cm shorter than today’s Ford Fiesta – was the cover star of the first issue of Small Car and Mini Owner, as the mag was then called. Such was the cultural influence of the mighty Mini, even before it won the Monte Carlo Rally at the hands of Paddy Hopkirk (who sadly died in July) or starred in The Italian Job. In fact, the magazine didn’t assume today’s name until 1965, but by then its pioneering ways were established, introducing scoops of upcoming cars and uncompromising comparison tests to the previously staid UK motoring press. And showing…