The Mini has been a style icon even since its original inception in 1959. The combination of a cute and quirky little car which was not only great around town, was owned and driven by the rich and famous
but was also one of the most easily affordable vehicles available for the normal person in the street to both buy and maintain, propelled this automotive icon into being one of the most popular British-made cars ever
From the time the first groundbreaking 850cc Morris Mini Minor rolled off the production line on 26 August 1959, the Sir Alec Issigonis' designed Mini was destined for a big future
The original mini from 1959 came about as Issigonis was challenged by The British Motor Company (BMC) to design a car to answer the problems resulting from the European fuel crisis caused by the nationalization of the Suez Canal
While German aircraft designers like Messerschmitt, Heinkel as well as Isetta came up with tiny bubble cars in response, the head of BMC wanted a new car which was to be small at just four feet wide, by ten feet long and four feet high but which could comfortably seat four adults and take their luggage without any problems
The revolutionary engine and transmission design allowed for the creation of a car that was not only compact externally but made maximum use of available interior space
With great stability generated by the front wheel drive and wheel at each corner arrangement, and the front grill and headlamp layout which created a cheeky face look, the car appealed to both hardened driving fans as well as the general population
The creation of the Mini Cooper in 1961 which lead to three wins at the Monte Carlo Rally between 1964 and 1967, driven by the likes of the great Paddy Hopkirk, as well as a host of other racing triumphs, showed the Mini's true driving pedigree
Combining this with driving endorsements from big name celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, and all four of the Beatles, and then add to this the release of The Italian Job, a big motion film with Michael Caine and Noel Coward, but which firmly had Mini's as the main stars, and it is no surprise that everyone wanted to drive one of these great little cars
Production of the classic Mini continued until 2000 after which BMW, who now owned the brand name, announced their successor, the BMW Mini
