Minis, Maestros, Montegos and Maxis will set off in convoy from Oxford to take part in a nostalgic car rally in the Midlands.

The Pride of Longbridge Rally, which is being held for the second year next month, remembers when thousands of workers in the West Midlands lost their jobs in 2005 as Rover collapsed.

It also celebrates the achievements of the Longbridge plant and is jointly organised by the Rover Community Action Trust and Austin and Longbridge Federation in Cofton Park, next to the Longbridge plant.

The links between the two factories at Cowley and Longbridge are also being celebrated, and a convoy of cars will meet at the BMW Mini plant on Saturday, April 14, to travel to Longbridge.

Organising the Cowley convoy is mum-of-three and Mini enthusiast Tanya Field, 40, from Mark Road, Headington, whose husband Jason, 40, works as an IT manager at BMW.

Mrs Field, who works with people with mental health problems, said: “We now have about 30 cars signed up for the convoy with a large variety of models.

“The organisers of the Pride of Longbridge rally are keen to celebrate the history that Cowley and Longbridge share.

“We thought it would be a great idea if cars built while Cowley and Longbridge were linked could convoy from Cowley to join the rally.

“Last year, we had 14 vehicles on our convoy and had a great run though the countryside to Longbridge, where 850 cars took part.

“I don’t think there could be a better way to celebrate our historic links by driving in our Minis, Maestros, Montegos, Metros, Rover SD1s, Princesses and Maxis to the rally.”

The Fields have seven Minis and in November took their Mini Coopers to the Regent Street Motor Show in London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper.

The family will travel in the convoy in Speedy, their blue 1960 Austin Seven Mini 850cc, and Betty, a black 1988 Austin Mini 998cc.

Mrs Field added: “We stick to the country routes because some drivers want to avoid the motorways. It’s a great day out and joining in is free.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk To join the convoy, email tanyafield@supanet.com