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The Mini is perhaps the most iconic small car ever produced. The British Motor Corporation, BMC, produced the first Mini cars in 1959. The distinctive two-door design was the work of Sir Alec Issigonis. The front-wheel-drive layout allowed a lot of space to be saved, so 80% of it was available for passengers and the boot, making this small car very practical.
The Mini Mark I eventually evolved into three variations; the Mini Mark II, the Mini Clubman and finally the Mini Mark III. Within the range there were also an estate car, a small pick-up and even a van. The Mini Cooper also established a more sporty line and was used successfully in racing events. Between 1964 and 1967 Mini cars won the Monte Carlo Rally every year. Mini sales during the sixties were initially slow, but by the end of the decade over one million had been made.
At first the Mini was marketed under the marque names of Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor, but in 1969 the Mini became a brand name in its own right. The Mark II Mini range was in production from 1967 until 1973. The most distinctive change was a new front grille, which remained until production ceased. By 2000, huge losses by the Rover Company eventually forced production to halt, although the name lives on as the new Mini, which is manufactured by BMW.
In 1999 the Mini received the accolade of being the second most influential car in the 20th century, just behind the Ford Model T. In 1969 the Mini was used in the iconic film 'The Italian Job'. In the film, a gang of thieves use the versatile Mini to escape, driving down staircases, speeding through large storm drains, before eventually being driven into a moving bus via a ramp at the back. The second hand Mini is still a common sight on UK roads and is especially popular with learner drivers.
