Photo: Mini
On this very day, 55 years ago, the first classic Mini assembled in Birmingham went on the market, showing the UK market at first what Sir Alec Issigonis came up with. Little did he and the rest of the world know what this would mean to the automotive industry.
In the later years, Minis started dominating not only the UK market but later on Europe and other countries as well. Its lightweight construction, fuel-sipping engine and easy to maintain chassis made it a hit everywhere it went on sale.
Furthermore, you had lots of interior space with minimum exterior dimensions, four seats and perfect driving properties, all for a small price. Not only did these cars influence the 60 and 70 but they are now making their way into the 21st century.
Ever since BMW took over the MINI brand in 2001, they’ve been trying to keep true to those values. Sure, it didn’t work out entirely but the MINI cars of today have to deal with different issues than they had more than half a century ago.
Today’s range has 7 models in the line-up including the MINI Clubman, the MINI Convertible, the MINI Coupé and the MINI Roadster, going right through to the MINI Countryman and the MINI Paceman. There are even more to come, in the shape of the 5-door hardtop and the upcoming Clubman.
In order to celebrate the passing of 55 years, MINI enthusiasts from the classic MINI fanclub and the MINI community in the UK met up in the county of Kent. There, they had the chance to exchange opinions and see some unique models in the world but also the new Hardtop launched this year. The vehicles on display ranged from one of the very first models ever made, dating back to 1960 to a classic Mini Clubman Estate and a 25 Special Edition Mini from 1984, through to one of the last classic Minis ever built back in 2000.
The guest list included Paddy Hopkirk, the man that managed to claim Mini’s first ever win in a rally at Monte Carlo and Russ Swift that put on a show for the audience.
Furthermore, you had lots of interior space with minimum exterior dimensions, four seats and perfect driving properties, all for a small price. Not only did these cars influence the 60 and 70 but they are now making their way into the 21st century.
Ever since BMW took over the MINI brand in 2001, they’ve been trying to keep true to those values. Sure, it didn’t work out entirely but the MINI cars of today have to deal with different issues than they had more than half a century ago.
Today’s range has 7 models in the line-up including the MINI Clubman, the MINI Convertible, the MINI Coupé and the MINI Roadster, going right through to the MINI Countryman and the MINI Paceman. There are even more to come, in the shape of the 5-door hardtop and the upcoming Clubman.
In order to celebrate the passing of 55 years, MINI enthusiasts from the classic MINI fanclub and the MINI community in the UK met up in the county of Kent. There, they had the chance to exchange opinions and see some unique models in the world but also the new Hardtop launched this year. The vehicles on display ranged from one of the very first models ever made, dating back to 1960 to a classic Mini Clubman Estate and a 25 Special Edition Mini from 1984, through to one of the last classic Minis ever built back in 2000.
The guest list included Paddy Hopkirk, the man that managed to claim Mini’s first ever win in a rally at Monte Carlo and Russ Swift that put on a show for the audience.
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