Happy Birthday MINI!

Some might think that May 8 is the date the brand turns fifty, since that was the day the first MINI rolled off the assembly line, but it was in fact August 26, 1959 when the MINI was introduced to the world. The British Motor Corporation (BMC) were the one to give to Sir Alec Issigonis the mission of designing a vehicle a small car, yet big enough to fit four people in it.

Moreover, the Mini would have to guarantee perfect handling and low fuel consumption. As a result, in August 1959, the MINI was introduced to the world. Of course, it was not called MINI, but came under two names, as either Austin Mini Seven (or Se7en) or Morris Mini Minor.

Within three years after its market launch, Mini production already exceeded 200,000 vehicles a year. In 1986, the five millionth MINI sees the daylight. The MINI brand was re-launched in 2001, coming back as the New MINI, under BMW ownership. MINI sales have increased every year since 2002, with more than 232,000 MINI brand vehicles sold in 2008.

The MINI plant in Oxford is currently jointly manufacturing the MINI, MINI Clubman and MINI Convertible models, while also producing MINI John Cooper Works, MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Convertible models. Adding the sales of the New MINI to the sales of the classic Mini, the brand can claim to have sold 6.8 million vehicles worldwide.

To mark its 50th birthday, the MINI 50 Camden and MINI 50 Mayfair birthday editions will make their world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, alongside an oversized “What a Birthday. It’s MINI.” banner. In addition, the MINI Crossover will also be launched on the market next year. You can read more about the whole MINI story in one of our coverstories here.