| The Mini has been a style icon even since its | | | | then add to this the release of The Italian |
| original inception in 1959. The combination | | | | Job, a big motion film with Michael Caine and |
| of a cute and quirky little car which was not | | | | Noel Coward, but which firmly had Mini's as |
| only great around town, was owned and driven | | | | the main stars, and it is no surprise that |
| by the rich and famous, but was also one of | | | | everyone wanted to drive one of these great |
| the most easily affordable vehicles available | | | | little cars. |
| for the normal person in the street to both | | | | |
| buy and maintain, propelled this automotive | | | | Production of the classic Mini continued |
| icon into being one of the most popular | | | | until 2000 after which BMW, who now owned the |
| British-made cars ever. | | | | brand name, announced their successor, the |
| | | | BMW Mini. |
| From the time the first groundbreaking 850cc | | | | |
| Morris Mini Minor rolled off the production | | | | While many enthusiasts reject the claim that |
| line on 26 August 1959, the Sir Alec | | | | the new Mini is in fact a genuine successor, |
| Issigonis' designed Mini was destined for a | | | | being longer, wider, heavier, and being |
| big future. | | | | relatively more expensive to buy than the |
| | | | original, many others feel that the new |
| The original mini from 1959 came about as | | | | larger Mini was the only logical way for the |
| Issigonis was challenged by The British Motor | | | | car to keep up with modern requirements. By |
| Company (BMC) to design a car to answer the | | | | retaining the general overall styling look of |
| problems resulting from the European fuel | | | | the classic car but upgrading the technical |
| crisis caused by the nationalization of the | | | | specifications, BMW had to tread a fine line |
| Suez Canal. While German aircraft designers | | | | to produce a car which would retain the |
| like Messerschmitt, Heinkel as well as Isetta | | | | quirky yet fun visual aspects of the old |
| came up with tiny bubble cars in response, | | | | vehicle as well as the superb handling |
| the head of BMC wanted a new car which was to | | | | characteristics which had made the original |
| be small at just four feet wide, by ten feet | | | | such a classic icon. |
| long and four feet high but which could | | | | |
| comfortably seat four adults and take their | | | | Despite initial reservations from some |
| luggage without any problems. | | | | reviewers and fans of the old car, the new |
| | | | version of the Mini has so far proved to be |
| The revolutionary engine and transmission | | | | almost as popular as the first, and with the |
| design allowed for the creation of a car that | | | | help of BMW car finance over one million |
| was not only compact externally but made | | | | models were sold during the initial six years |
| maximum use of available interior space. | | | | of production |
| With great stability generated by the front | | | | |
| wheel drive and wheel at each corner | | | | It seems that just like the original, these |
| arrangement, and the front grill and headlamp | | | | latest models have also been able to garner |
| layout which created a cheeky face look, the | | | | the attention of famous owners such as |
| car appealed to both hardened driving fans as | | | | Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sharon Osbourne and |
| well as the general population. | | | | Charlotte Church. While the latest brace of |
| | | | cars bearing the Mini name, and the latest |
| The creation of the Mini Cooper in 1961 which | | | | version of the Italian Job, may not be able |
| lead to three wins at the Monte Carlo Rally | | | | to conjure up quite the same stirrings of |
| between 1964 and 1967, driven by the likes of | | | | emotion that their predecessors did, it is |
| the great Paddy Hopkirk, as well as a host of | | | | undeniable that BMW has managed to avoid much |
| other racing triumphs, showed the Mini's true | | | | of the backlash which remaking a classic can |
| driving pedigree. Combining this with | | | | bring. Instead the BMW Mini looks set to |
| driving endorsements from big name | | | | continue the legacy, albeit in a different |
| celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Clint | | | | direction, which was started nearly 40 years |
| Eastwood, and all four of the Beatles, and | | | | ago. |