Comments on: The Mini Story 1959 to 1999

By: GRAHAM GONZALEZ

GRAHAM GONZALEZ — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:24:00 +0000

AUSTIN MORRIS should reintroduce the 1959 mini as new exactly as the original.I am convinced they would sell another million,for definate i would buy one. All the best speedy.

By: Jimb

Jimb — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:18:46 +0000

http://car-culture.blogspot.com/2008/12/alec-issigonis-man-who-destroyed.html perhaps you will find this article about the failings of Issigonis interesting

By: GregW

GregW — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:30:40 +0000

This should be made compulsory reading for new-comers to the MINI marque.

By: veggivet

veggivet — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:31:17 +0000

Producing an updated classic Mini that met today’s safety requirements would take several strokes of automotive brilliance. Making it profitable at a price point people are willing to pay for a (very) small car may be impossible. If this miracle occurs, there’s still room in my two-car garage for another Mini, which houses an R50, an R53, and a classic Mini.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Actually Michael think with some redesign they could get the classic to handle airbags and more safety devices. Space is tight but think its possible.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:17:07 +0000

They could not bring the “classic” Mini back in any real markets since it would not pass any of the modern crash tests etc. The car would need to be completely re-designed and made modern…. I think they may have already done something like that called the MINI. Not to say BMW/MINI is not working on a smaller car, more along the lines of the original but modern :)

By: JonPD

JonPD — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:16:13 +0000

Second that pcbraun, still think the classic with a little effort would make a great city car blowing away both the Fiat500 and the Smart.

A great run for Sir Alec's vision, definitely a man way ahead of his time in my view. Still believe the R60 is trading on this colorful and interesting history. While likely its going to sell well I would lay money down saying a small city car would outsell yet another small SUV on the market. Mini is going to have to face very competent competition really for the first time since the launch of the R50. I would much rather seem them competing against the likes of the Smart rather than the Rav$.

By: pbraun

pbraun — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:53:55 +0000

I think it’s a shame the “classic” Mini was discontinued. BMW/MINI should bring it back!

By: C4

C4 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:49:52 +0000

We are almost coming to the first decade of the Stephenson designed new MINI. Hard to believe the first R50 prototype was shown to the automotive press 11 years ago and we are quickly coming to 7 years since the first MINIs arrived to US showrooms in March 2002.

By: ejkd

ejkd — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:45:41 +0000

When my father died in 1983; I inherited his 1963 Austin Mini 850 cc. I tried to restore it as much as I could.Fun to drive and “very” cheap on gas. Eventually had to sell because I have to work overseas. Eversince I miss it until the arrival of the new MINI R53.