A classic Italian car caper starring a Braydon family will mark the end of a motoring era.

More than 100 Minis will gather in Dover tomorrow to take part in The Italian Job. This year's race will be tinged with sadness as production of the classic Mini ended last month.

Participants will end this year's race at Longbridge, Birmingham, the home of the Mini, on November 4. The charity event will see the cars travel on more than 3,000 miles of Europe's roads, taking in France, Germany and Italy.

It attracts Mini-lovers from Britain, Europe and even as far afield as Japan. Among those taking part will be the Wildeboer family.

Bev and Julio Wildeboer, both 46 and son Ben, 10, will take to the road in a Mini.

"We are all looking forward to it. It is a tremendous fun way of raising money for charity," said Mrs Wildeboer.

"The Mini is a special car, it has so much character."

The family is hoping to raise £1,500 for the NCH Action for Children charity.

The charity drive across Europe is based on the classic 1969 film starring Sir Michael Caine and Noel Coward. The pair mastermind an audacious robbery, stealing Italian gold and causing traffic chaos in Turin in order to make their escape.

Three Minis star in the film as the gang makes its getaway. The family will travel through France and Germany and on to the Emilia Romagna region of Italy.

As part of this charity job the drivers will have to go through check points and enter a number of different vineyards to pick up 'loot' of the drinkable variety.