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A Breif History about the Mini.
The Mini made its debut 26 August 1959. The Mini was primarily a practical, affordable vehicle (it went on sale at just under £500). Alex Issigonis claimed that it down to practicalities rather than any great design inspiration that the shape of the Mini emerged. The car had to be made in such a way as to seat four adults but still be within the budget of an ordinary family. In order to deliver the car at an affordable price corners were cut. One common complaint of the earliest Minis was that they took on water which often led to the driver arriving at the destination with wet feet! This was traced to a trim which had been put on the wrong way round and rectified. The early cars would also stall in the wet and this was down to the openness of the distributor cap a decision based on trimming costs.
The Mini became an icon for the 1960's, a period of rebellion and change. The 1960s are remembered not only for the Mini but also its counterpart the mini skirt. No photo shoot was complete with out one, other or both. What started out as an affordable car became the must have item for the "A" list of the swinging sixties. Everybody who was anybody had a Mini and of course it had to be customised. Whether it be wind up or even electric windows, central consoles or rally seats, the car was made to be customised. Some of the best known owners include Peter Sellers, the Beatles (George Harrison has a beautiful psychedelic Mini), Graham Hill and Enzo Ferrari.
And of course who can forget the Minis starring role in The Italian Job. The scenes where the Minis weave in and out of the squares, pass through houses, sewers and over weirs and down stairs before going back of the bus has to be some of the best car footage ever in a film.
It took John Cooper, twice F1 World Champion Constructor, to realise the full potential of the Minis sharp handling and manoeuvrability. In 1961 the first Mini Cooper hit the streets, firstly with a 997cc engine producing a massive 55bhp. And it was in rallying that the power and durability of the Mini Cooper was proven. The Mini Cooper S won the greatest of all long distance rally events, the Monte Carlo four years running, although the French did manage to get it disqualified in 1966 over a technicality in the headlights. |
