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The Story Of The MINI
The idea for the Mini was conceived during the fuel shortage in 1956 when petrol in the UK was rationed and sales of big cars dropped drastically.
But perhaps if it hadn't been for the aesthetic absurdities of the German Bubble car, we would never have been graced with the Mini. While the market for the Bubble car boomed, head of the British Motor Corporation, Leonard Lord, allegedly declared: 'God damn these bloody awful Bubble cars. We must drive them off the road by designing a proper miniature car!'
And so Sir Alec Issigonis, a Greek-British designer, designed a tiny car to great acclaim from his contemporaries.
The Mini was first designed under the name ADO15 (Austin Drawing Office project number 15) and deviated from tradition by having its engine mounted transversely (with the crankshaft oriented side to side relative to length of car) and being front-wheel drive. He placed the radiator on the left side, but it had reversed pitch which meant the air blew into the low pressure space under the front wing.
This design meant the car could be very short in length but it also brought with it its disadvantages. It meant the radiator was fed with air heated already by being passed over the engine, and the whole ignition system was exposed to rainwater via the grille.
The use of sliding windows instead of wind-up ones gave room for storage pockets, reportedly crafted in a size to fit a bottle of Gordon's Gin, to exist in the hollow doors.
The suspension system used small compact rubber cones in place of the usual springs to save space. Drivers and passengers were subjected to a somewhat bumpy ride, helped along by the woven-webbing seats.
Launched at a cost of 500 pounds and with a top speed of 72mph, it was the cheapest saloon car available and went on to become the iconic car of the 1960s, winning the Monte Carlo rally three times during that decade.
Although very basic, the car had its own unique appeal: it could park in spaces much too small for normal-sized cars, which was very useful in traffic-laden London. The cars went from being to cheap and cheerful to cool and sought-after.
Next came the Mini Cooper which had a bigger engine and twin carburettors, and shortly after the British Motor Company produced the Mini Cooper S, which became the standard production car. The car now has an owners club with members worldwide and which meets at various locations in the UK for organised events.
The company now supports KidsOut, which is its charity partner, and helps disadvantaged children and young people in their long-term development.
About the Author Thomas Pretty is an historian with many years of experience writing about the evolution of the motor industry. Find out more about MINI at http://www.coopermini.co.uk/
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