Birthday job: this brand blows out 65 candles today

Revolutionary car

The Mini, as we know it today, began its life as a response to a crisis.
We go back to the 1950s, a time when the world was ravaged by the Suez Crisis, which led to “the oil crisis.
Fuel became scarce and expensive, and people began to have an increasing need for fuel-efficient, compact cars.
British car manufacturer British Motor Corporation (BMC) saw an opportunity and commissioned their top designer, Sir Alec Issigonis, to develop a revolutionary small car.

Cross-thinker

Issigonis was an avid fan of simple and practical designs and set to work.
The result was officially presented to the public on August 26, 1959 – 65 years ago.
Not much later, the model rolled off the assembly line en masse.
The innovative way the small car was designed impressed.
To save as much space as possible, Issigonis placed the engine transversely in the car, with the gearbox underneath.
This allowed the Mini to carry four adults and their luggage despite its compact size – it was slightly longer than three meters.

Tear Iron

But the Mini was more than just a handy, compact family car.
It soon became apparent that the small, agile car also had great handling, making it a perfect racer.
Thanks to its excellent handling and low weight (590 kg!), the car became an unexpected star in motor sports.
The highlight came in 1964, when the Mini Cooper won the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally for the first time, a feat it would repeat twice more in 1965 and 1967.
These victories made the little Brit a legend not only on the road but also on the track.
The Mini’s popularity grew rapidly and it became a cultural icon in the 1960s, thanks in part to its appearance in films such as The Italian Job (1969).

Jubilee year

After decades of success, and despite some challenging years, the Mini was revived in 2001 when BMW took over the brand.
The German automaker managed to preserve the iconic character of the car, while at the same time modernizing and expanding the brand with new models, such as the Countryman and the electric Mini Cooper SE.

This year the brand introduced new model generations, including the new Cooper and Countryman, and soon the all-electric Aceman will hit the market.
There will also be new John Cooper Works models, available in both gasoline and electric versions.

Also see: Mini Cooper SE (2024) Review – Electric Mini is a PRETMACHINE!