1997 | Mini Cooper 1.3i MPI

The Mini, a small car with a big story. In 1959, British car manufacturer British Motor Corporation (BMC) released the Mini, it is obvious that they had a clear goal in mind: releasing a small city-fit car with a cute design. Thanks to The Beatles and its starring in countless famous films, the car has acquired an iconic status over the decades.

It was Alec Issigonis, a British-Greek car designer that worked for BMC, who gave birth to the Mini. He had a clear goal in mind: to create an affordable and fuel-efficient car that is efficient and light-steering in narrow British city streets. This approach, along with the playful design, created a true hype among young people. The Mini also became extremely popular with influential people, to the point that all members of The Beatles - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr - proudly show off their Minis. In 1969, the car takes on the leading role in the film The Italian Job, in which bank robbers used a Mini as a getaway car. Also Mr. Bean’s car is a lime green 1977 Mini, which emphasizes his clumsiness in the best way possible.

Initially, the Mini was manufactured in various finishes, such as a sedan, a station wagon, a van, and even a pickup truck. Those finishes never really became fancied among the crowd. Also, in the 1980s, the Mini began losing its fame due to fierce competition from other car brands. This caused a harsh financial crisis in 1986 at British Leyland - the former BMC that also own Jaguar, Rover, Triumph, and MG. They even decide to restructure and privatize the company and from that moment on Rover Group was born. In 1994, Rover Group sells Mini to BMW, which seven years later, in 2001, launch a refined version of the Mini. Nowadays BMW still produce the Mini – baring its British identity in mind – and it is available in various finishes: a convertible, a fully electric version, a hybrid version, a sports version, and even a station wagon.

As mentioned before, the goal was to build a city car that fit in traffic in cities, therefore they had to use as little space as possible, that was a real challenge in the middle of the 20th century. The 1950s are often considered a tipping point in automotive technology, and the Mini has contributed to that tipping point: a front-wheel drive car with a transverse and space-saving engine that is highly responsive and fit to city traffic.

Today, the Mini is a coveted classic car, and not only among classic car enthusiasts. The cute and vulnerable design simply captures everyone's hearts.

Technical information:

Body work

- Length (cm): 305 (120 inch)
- Width (cm): 144 (57 inch)
- Height (cm): 134 (53 inch)
- Wheelbase (cm): 204 (80 inch)
- Weight (kg): 696 (1534 lbs)

Mechanics

- Engine: 1275 cc straight-four front-engine
- Valve gear: 8
- Fuel system: MPI
- Gear box: 4-speed manual
- Transmission: FWD
- Left-steered
- power: 62 hp (46 kW) at 5500 t/m
- torque: 95 Nm at 3000 t/m
- Top speed: 148 km/h (92 mph)


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