5.5 million Minis were built in 41 years of production that ended in 2000. About 15,000 came to the United States before 1968 when federal bumper regulations took effect. Now cars 25 years old may be imported without having to meet those restrictions. Mini’s are best loved for three things: a big smile and a friendly manner, great handling, and easy parking. OK, four things...
The Mini went into production in August, 1959. It was the brain child of Alec Issigonis, a designer for Morris Cars in Cowley, Oxford, about 50 miles west of London. He worked on the Mini in the Austin design department in Longbridge a bit north of Cowley since Austin and Morris merged in 1956 under the British Motor Corporation banner. Issigonis convinced BMC to build a small car while other makers were following the opposite trend. His innovations, including the transverse engine with front wheel drive, independent suspension on rubber doughnut springs, and 10” wheels positioned near the corners of the package, gave the Mini maximum interior space as well as sports car handling.
The Mini proved to be a natural rally competitor, winning the famous Monte Carlo Rallye outright in 1964, 1965, and 1967. This extraordinary success by the BMC competition department, which operated out of the MG Car Company plant at Abingdon, was financed primarily by producing and installing “Special Tuning” modifications on customer cars for racing and touring.
Morris started to produce the Mini Cooper in 1961 and Austin followed soon after. John Cooper, the Formula One world champion constructor, worked closely with Austin and Morris, engineering a series of high performance improvements covering engines, gear ratios, brakes, seats, and instruments. The works of tuners and stylers such as Downton, Arden, Longman, Janspeed, Jack Knight, Radford, Wood & Pickett, and Hooper were eagerly received by the enthusiasts who drove the improved Minis. The variety of Mini body styles and specials appealed to a variety of drivers including John Rhodes, Rauno Aaltonen, Les Leston, the Beatles, Mary Quant, Peter Sellers, Enzo Ferrari, Steve McQueen, Dan Gurney and many others.
For more Mini history, try Rob Golding’s Mini Thirty Years On, (or Twenty Five Years On or Thirty Five Years On), Osprey, London.
By Thomas Abbe f/n: TABLIMEA Rev: 10-14-03