British Motor Corporation (BMC) introduced the public to a small economy car known as the Mini, from 1959 through to the 2000s.
The originals of this car are considered iconic of popular culture during the 60s period and this car represented all of that.
This Mini became an influencer to many car manufacturers that inspired a generation of space saving transverse engine front-wheel drive layout.
Essentially, this allowed up to 80% of the car’s floor plan to be used for passengers and luggage.
Designated to Leonard Lord as a project Amalgamated Drawing Office Project Number 15, and the product of the Morris design team, the Mini was born due to a shortage in fuel which was due to the 1956 Suez Crisis.
Large cars over consumed fuel and the market slumped dramatically, this is when German bubble cars boomed.
However, BMC detested these bubble cars promising to rid the streets of the by introducing a well design “proper” miniature car.
The very first production of the Mini was presented to the press in April 1959, displayed at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire.
Under BMC’s two main brand names, Austin and Morris, the Morris version was known as the Morris Mini-Minor, becoming an extraordinarily successful vehicle that continued in production.
In 1964 the suspension of the cars were replaced by a Moulton design, known as the Hydrolastic System.
With the new suspension in place, the ride was much softer but it increased the weight and production cost.
In 1971 the original rubber suspension reappears and remained permanently for the rest of the Mini production.
The Mini was an icon of popular culture as it emerged in the 1960s with well-publicised purchases by films and celebrities of the time.
