One of the more interesting stories in automobile history is that of the Mini Cooper. This was not a design born from the imagination of someone who wanted to shake up the industry, but as a response to a national crisis. The unique story of the Mini Cooper is one that is likely lesser-known, but likely to surprise you.
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The Birth Of The Mini Cooper
In 1959, Britain suffered a fuel shortage from what is known as the “1959 Suez Crisis”. The nation was in a position to ration its petrol, pushing the prices of automobiles, especially big cars. In response, the British Motor Company (BMC) went to the drawing board and came up with a small, inexpensive car called the Mini. The Mini would have two doors, hold four passengers, and could be placed in a 10’x4’4′ container. They were featuring a four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, a four-speed manual gearbox, and a top speed of 90mph. This car had everything anyone could want during a fuel shortage.
Mark I Mini
From the drawing board to production, the Mark I Mini was born in 1959 as the first version of the car. It was unveiled in April 1959, and by August of that year, several thousand cars had been built for release on August 26th. The Mini was marketed under two leading brand names by BMC, Austin, and Morris. The Morris version of the car was known as the “Morris Mini-Minor,” or as most know it, “the Mini.”
Mark Ii Mini
After eight years of the Mark I Mini, the Mark II came onto the scene. The changes were not earth-shattering but did include a larger rear window, newly designed front grille, and several other minor cosmetic tweaks. A couple of years later, in 1969, a fiberglass version of the Mini was released. However, this only lasted a year on the market before its successor.
Mark Iii Mini
The Mark III Mini began production in 1969 with several design changes, including bigger doors, no visible hinges, and a generally modified body. Consumers also wanted heat to come as standard equipment, and in 1974 this became so. However, while the Mini was still prevalent in Britain, it was quickly becoming outdated by rivals making more practical vehicles.
Mark Iv Mini
In 1977, 7 years after the Mark III, the Mark IV hit the scene with some minor changes. Windshield wipers, larger foot pedals, and twin column stalks to name a few. The Mark IV came with a demise in 1984, as the result of competitors like the Renault 5 and Ford Fiesta. By 2000, a 41-year production reign came to an end when BMW bought the rights to BMC.
Conclusion
Over 5 million cars were manufactured over Mini’s career and became a fashion icon in Britain. Just as the original line of Mini’s came to an end in 2000, BMW launched the new Mini in 2001 to continue the legacy. This new version is more significant than the original, but still far smaller than your typical sedan. BMW has carved its own Mini niche out of today’s market, receiving over 45,000 reservations for the new all-electric Mini Cooper in 2019. With this history and continuous revisions, it is clear that the Mini is here to stay.