The story of the Mini began in the late 1950s, a time when fuel shortages and economic constraints pushed the British Motor Corporation (BMC) to find a solution for efficient, small cars. Sir Alec Issigonis, the brilliant engineer and designer, was tasked with the challenge of creating a car that was compact yet spacious, affordable yet advanced.
Issigonis and his team developed the Mini with a radical approach. The engine was placed transversely, which was revolutionary for the time, allowing for more interior space. The wheels were pushed to the far corners, further maximizing the car’s interior while maintaining its small footprint. When the Mini was launched in 1959, its design was groundbreaking ....it was unlike anything on the roads. This little car was only 10 feet long, yet it comfortably ( well, sort of) seated four adults and had room for luggage. It was compact, practical, and, most importantly, affordable.
It was 1966 and my brother had just turned 15 which, in New Zealand at that time, meant he could get a driver's license. We lived in the country and high school was quite a distance away and there was no school bus within about 15 kilometres. Mum and Dad decided it would be a great idea to buy a car so that my two older brothers could drive to the nearest school bus stop and save Mum the chore each day.
The three of us were beyond excited. What would they buy? We all knew what we wanted. We all knew what we probably wouldn't get. But back then, there was only one car that we desperately desired.
I can still remember the afternoon it came. Dad pulled into our driveway. My oldest brother exclaimed
" It's a Mini ! "
The joy was unbelievable. Not the dreaded sensible Minor, but the exciting wonderful and snappy MINI!!!
Ours, but we didn't have white walls.
The Mini was a game changer. As skirts got shorter, pants got wider and hair for men got longer, cars got smaller. The Mini zipped onto the scene with as much pizzazz as Trump on an elevator announcing he was running for President. In other words, it took the world by storm.
As the 1960s progressed, the Mini’s influence went beyond its practical appeal..it became a symbol of the decade’s cultural revolution. celebrities like The Beatles and Twiggy. The world was changing and here was a car that would be a symbol of the shift that no one truly expected.
Even movie characters like Michael Caine's as Charlie Croker in The Italian Job helped solidify the Mini’s place in pop culture. And for those of you who look for " The Italian Job " make sure it is the original, not the remake.
The Mini was as much part of life as beatle boots, witches britches, hot pants, mini skirts and Bob Dylan. In short it was an era of less is more.
Quite what happened in the 2 years before I joined my brothers in the mini going to high school I will never know. But I can guess and it would probably have something to do with girls.
I do remember that my brothers suddenly took a liking for taking our little black toy poodle to the beach. They were irresistible to the lasses with their blonde hair, good looks, cute puppy and a very cool car.
What many people didn’t expect from the Mini was its success on the racetrack. The car’s small size and nimble handling made it a surprisingly effective competitor. In the 1960s, the Mini Cooper—a high-performance version of the Mini, developed by racing legend John Cooper... dominated rally competitions. It famously won the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally three times (1964, 1965, and 1967), becoming a motorsport legend.
The Mini's racing prowess only added to its allure. It wasn’t just a city car; it was a serious contender in the world of motorsport, which endeared it even further to fans around the globe.
For my brothers, one thing that worked to their advantage was that they had a trapdoor in the floor of their bedroom. Below their bedroom was the garage. It was amazing how a rope, an old Air New Zealand carry bag and a brother in both locations could see beer magically go from the boot of the car to the bedroom; or clothes from the bedroom to the boot of the car. The speed with which this transfer took place was staggeringly fast.
One of the most interesting things about the Mini was its many design innovations.
Beyond its transverse engine layout and front-wheel-drive setup, it was also praised for its simple yet effective suspension system, which gave it excellent handling. The hydrolastic suspension, introduced in 1964, allowed the Mini to glide over bumpy roads with ease. Now most of you know I love a Citroen. It is an interesting thought that these cars both had innovative suspension. But back to my story.
The car’s compact size made it easy to navigate tight city streets, and its efficient use of space became a hallmark of its design. Despite its tiny stature, the Mini was roomy on the inside..........a clever feat of engineering that continues to impress car enthusiasts even today.
When I turned 12, I was off to high school. From my little country primary school with about 100 students, I was suddenly in the real world and headed off to join 1500 others in a place that was so foreign and exciting, that I could have been destined for the moon. As I settled into the routine of being one of " the gang " in the mini, I learned that things were not always as they seemed...
For example, my pocket money was 20 cents a week. Apparently that paid for a gallon of petrol for a car. With me joining the group, we could avoid the school bus and take the mini to school, thus impressing the girls and enhancing my brothers' already rather illustrious reputations. And so it was I had no pocket money for quite some time. But what happened in the mini, stayed in the mini.
Over the years, we three all went to fencing competitions and managed to pack all our fencing gear into the boot of that wonderful little car.
If there is one memory I will always cherish it is of being in the back seat of the mini, staying quiet, gazing out the window, and marvelling at how my big brother was so clever and how I knew instinctively that a backseat driver was, as it is today, not a wise career choice.
By the late 1990s, after decades of evolution and different versions of the car, the classic Mini was phased out. Production officially ended in 2000, but far from closing a chapter on its book, the mini is still probably one of the most beloved cars in the world. Over 5 million Minis were produced, each one leaving its own mark on the roads.
Ask anyone who has owned a mini and they will have a story to tell. It may not feature a blue Air New Zealand bag, a trap door, or a misappropriated weekly pocket money allowance, but it will trigger a need to take road trip down memory lane.
More than just a car, the Mini represents to me anyway, a snapshot of my early teenage. It may have been small, but the Mini’s impact on the world was anything but.
There were many other tales about OUR mini, but let us remember, what happens in the mini, stays in the mini.
Shaydee
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS
