50 Years of the Mini

Sections: Best of the Web | In the Press Mar 8th, 2007 12 Comments

While it technically may be a bit early, here is a great story about the anniversary of the conceptual birth of the Mini. It includes 50 things that you may or may not know about the car.

IT started as a little giant but conquered the world. Perfect for parking, a hot favourite with the stars and simply oozing sex appeal, the Mini celebrates 50 glorious years this month.

Half a century later, as the new Mini Cooper D is set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on Thursday, we look at 50 things you never knew about the Mini.

The Mini’s designer, Turkishborn Alec Issigonis, drew the first sketch on a napkin in a restaurant.

His brief was a body no more than 10ft long which would carry four adults and their luggage.

Issigonis, who was knighted in 1969, gave his designs the code name Mosquito.

There was only an 18in space in which to fit the engine and gearbox. They got round this by turning the engine sideways and mounting the gearbox beneath it in the oil sump.

[ 50 Years of the MINI ] Dailyrecord.co.uk

Written By: DB

FrankInMiami

I taught the MINI would not turn 50 until 2009…?
Motoring Advisor

2008 marks 50 years
Bruce

A little bit of research will confirm that August 26th, 1959 was the worldwide launch of the classic Mini. So 2007 is the 48th anniversary and 2008 is the 49th. Mini’s 50th birthday won’t arrive until 2009.

BMW knows this quite well, having sponsored the massive “Mini40″ birthday party held at Silverstone racetrack in the UK in August 1999, where well over 100,000 people (myself included) attended the celebrations and special events.
Ralph

I just received a book I bought from MiniMania.com on the history of the Mini. I think this book has been out in England since late last year, but it’s New in the US.

The title of the book is: “MINI: A celebration of Britain’s best-loved small car”

If you’re a fan of the orginal Mini or just a Mini fan this is an excellent book. It has 160 pages, 150 color & 100 b&w photos. It covers the years: 1959 to 2000, with info on the 1957 development process.

There’s even a Picture of Michael Caine with a Mini that he Autographed to raise money for a charity.
msh441

…A little bit of research will confirm that August 26th, 1959 was the worldwide launch of the classic Mini. So 2007 is the 48th anniversary and 2008 is the 49th. MiniÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s 50th birthday wonÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t arrive until 2009…

Yes, they’re aware… as is the journalist writting this aritcle, ’cause it’s clearly stated within.

It would appear they are referring to the conceptual “birth” of the Mini (1957) versus the first Mini rolling off the production line (as you stated, 1959).

This is a good thing! It gives Mini (and MINI) owners a reason to now gather and celebrate for the next TWO FULL YEARS! Woo-Hoo!!!
Jim

47 The last “classic” Mini produced by Rover came off the production line on October 6, 2000

Actually it was the 4th Ocober 2000 as I’m sure all Classic owners remember
Ashley Wilson
1. The world record for cramming people in to a Mini is 66, filmed on Noel Edmond’s Late Late Breakfast Show in 1986.
Holy Crap! How many of these were amputees, I wonder? :D I could maybe see this in that double-ended Cooper/Cooper S limo that dude in California built, but in a classic…I dunno.
zack

alright, so who’s going to start making the bumper sticker on #27?
Bruce

It would appear they are referring to the conceptual ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œbirthÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â of the Mini (1957) versus the first Mini rolling off the production line (as you stated, 1959).

By that warped way of thinking the current BMW/Rover MINI is about 12 years old already. Long overdue for the R56 replacement!
GregW

Lets not start the 50th celebrations until 2009. You could only say that in 1957 Mini was a twinkle in Issigonis’s eye. Conception yes – birth no.
Black LE

Loking forward to MINI50 in 2009, all real Mini owners know that.
Patricia Bryant

I just drove my 73 Mini to a car show in Arkansas (USA) yesterday. It is the first time to take her on the interstate. We did great. My top speed was 62.She did not win a trophy, but we had a great time. There were 2 other classic Minis there they were race cars. I still have the 998cc engine. I LOVE MY MINI.

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