Mini Cooper

MINI CooperMini Clubman and Mini 1275GT (1969–1980) Parts 3Picture Of Mini Clubman And Mini 1275GTClassic MINI Cooper CarsMINI Cooper CarsThe Mini Clubman and 1275GT were responsible for two motoring "firsts": they were the first vehicles to use a flexi printed-circuit board behind the dash instruments (universal nowadays, but technically advanced for 1969). Secondly, the 1275GT was the first vehicle to be offered with run-flat tyres; from 1974 this model could be ordered with optional Dunlop Denovo tyres on 12-inch (300 mm) diameter rims. In the event of a puncture, the Dunlop Denovo tyre would not burst and quickly deflate, but could continue...

MINI Cooper Cars Models Mini Clubman and 1275GT: 1969–1980 Parts 2Picture Of MINI Cooper Cars Classic MINI Cooper CarsMINI Cooper Cars Parts 1The 1275GT is often incorrectly described as the "Mini Clubman 1275GT". The official name was always just the "Mini 1275GT", and it was a separate, distinct model from the Mini Clubman (albeit, it shared the same frontal treatment as the Mini Clubman, and was launched at the same time).In 1971, the 1275 cc Mini Cooper S was discontinued in the UK, leaving the Mini 1275GT as the only sporting Mini on sale for the rest of the decade. Innocenti in Italy, however, continued making their own version of the...

Used Classic MINI Cooper Cars Models Mini Clubman and 1275GT: 1969–1980 Parts 1Picture Of MINI Cooper Cars Classic MINI Cooper Cars// MINI ClubmanMINI Cooper Cars And MINI Clubman Parts 1In 1969, under the ownership of British Leyland, the Mini was given a facelift by stylist Roy Haynes, who had previously worked for Ford. The restyled version was called the Mini Clubman, and has a squarer frontal look, using the same indicator/sidelight assembly as the Austin Maxi. The Mini Clubman was intended to replace the upmarket Riley and Wolseley versions. A new model, dubbed the 1275GT, was slated as the replacement for the 998 cc Mini Cooper (the 1275...

Used Classic MINI Cooper Cars Models Mini Cooper and Cooper S (1961-2000)Parts 2Picture Of MINI Cooper Cars Classic MINI Cooper CarsMINI Cooper Cars Parts 1A more powerful MINI Cooper Cars, dubbed the "S", was developed in tandem and released in 1963. Featuring a 1071 cc engine with a 70.61 mm bore and nitrided steel crankshaft and strengthened bottom end to allow further tuning; and larger servo-assisted disc brakes, 4,030 MINI Cooper S cars were produced and sold until the model was updated in August 1964. MINI Cooper Cars also produced two MINI Cooper S cars models specifically for circuit racing in the under 1000cc and under 1300cc classes...

Used Classic MINI Cars Models Mini Cooper and Cooper S: 1961–2000 Parts 1Picture Of Classic MINI Cars Classic MINI Cars Mini Cooper SMINI Classic Cars Parts 1Issigonis' friend John Cooper, owner of the Cooper Car Company and designer and builder of Formula One and rally cars, saw the potential of the Mini Cars for competition. Issigonis was initially reluctant to see the Mini Cars in the role of a performance car, but after John Cooper appealed to BMC management, the two men collaborated to create the Mini Cooper Cars, a nimble, economical and inexpensive car. The Austin Mini Cooper Cars and Morris Mini Cooper Cars debuted in 1961.The original...

Morris Mini K (March 1969 – August 1971, Australia only)The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout (that allowed 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage) influenced a generation of car-makers. The vehicle is in some ways considered the British equivalent to its German contemporary, the Volkswagen Beetle, which enjoyed similar popularity in North America. In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th Century,...

Mini Pick-up (1961–1982)Picture Of Mini Classic CarsA pick-up truck, 11 ft (3.4 m) from nose to tail, built on the longer Mini Van platform, with an open-top rear cargo area and a tailgate. The factory specified the weight of the Pickup as less than 1,500 lb (680 kg) with a full 6 imperial gallons (27 L; 7 US gal) of fuel. Picture Of Mini Classic CarsAs with the Van, the Pickup did not have a costly chrome grille. Instead, a simple set of stamped metal slots allowed airflow into the engine compartment. The Pickup was spartan in basic form, although the factory brochure informed prospective buyers that "[a] fully equipped Mini Pick-up is also...

Mini Classic Cars - Mini Moke (1964–1989)Picture Of Mini Classic CarsA utility vehicle intended for the British Army, for whom a few twin-engined 4-wheel-drive versions were also built. Although the 4WD Moke could climb a 1:2 gradient, it lacked enough ground clearance for military use. The single-engined front-wheel-drive Moke enjoyed some popularity in civilian production. About 50,000 were made in total, from 1964 to 1968 in the UK, 1966 to 1982 in Australia and 1983 to 1989 in Portugal. The car featured in the cult 1967 TV series The Prisoner, and is popular in holiday locations such as Barbados and Macau, where Mokes were used as police...

Mini Classic Cars - Mini Van (1960–1982)A commercial panel van rated at ¼-ton load capacity. Built on the longer Traveller chassis but without side windows, it proved popular in 1960s Britain as a cheaper alternative to the car. it was classed as a commercial vehicle and as such carried no sales tax. A set of simple stamped steel slots served in place of a more costly chrome grille. The Mini Van was renamed as the Mini 95 in 1978, the number representing the gross vehicle weight of 0.95 tons. 521,494 were built. Despite this renaming, the motoring public continued to call it the Mini Van, as a result of which the class of vehicles known as minivans...

Mini Classic Cars - Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Mini Countryman (1961–1969)Picture Of Mini Classic CarsTwo-door estate cars with double "barn"-style rear doors. Both were built on a slightly longer chassis of 84 inch (2.14 m) compared to 80.25 inch (2.04 m) for the saloon.Picture Of Mini Classic CarsThe luxury models had decorative, non-structural wood inserts in the rear body which gave the car a similar appearance to the larger Morris Minor estate which had some of the look of an American-style 1950s Woodie. Approximately 108,000 Austin Mini Countrymen and 99,000 Morris Mini Travellers were bui...

Mini Classic Cars - Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf (1961–1969)Picture Of Mini Classic CarsBuilt as more luxurious versions of the Mini, both the Wolseley Hornet and the Riley Elf had longer, slightly finned rear wings and larger boots that gave the cars a more traditional "three-box" look. Front-end treatment, which incorporated each marque's traditional upright grille design, also contributed to a less utilitarian appearance. The cars had larger-diameter chrome hubcaps than the Austin and Morris Minis, and additional chrome accents, bumper overriders and wood-veneer dashboards. The Riley was the more expensive of the two cars. The name "Wolseley...

Mini Classic Cars - Mark II Mini (1967–1973)Picture Of Mini Classic CarsThe Mark II Mini Classic Cars featured a redesigned grille which remained with the car from that point on. Also, a larger rear window and numerous cosmetic changes were introduced. 429,000 Mark II Minis were made.Picture Of Mini Classic CarsA bewildering variety of Mini types were made in Pamplona, Spain, by the Authi company from 1968 onwards, mostly under the Morris name.Picture Of Mini Classic CarsThe Mini was arguably the star of the 1969 film The Italian Job, which features a car chase in which a gang of thieves drive three Minis down staircases, through storm drains,...

Mini Classic Cars - Mark I Mini (1959–1967) The End PartPicture Of Mini Classic CarsFrom October 1965 the option of an Automotive Products (AP) designed four-speed automatic transmission became available. Cars fitted with this became the Mini-MaticPicture Of Mini Classic CarsSlow at the outset, Mark I sales strengthened across most of the model lines in the 1960s, and production totalled 1,190,000. Sold at almost below cost, the basic Mini made very little money for its owners. However, it still did make a small profit. Ford once took a Mini away and completely dismantled it, possibly to see if they could offer an alternative. It was their opinion...

Mini Classic Cars - Mark I Mini (1959–1967) Part 2Picture Of Mini Classic CarsUntil 1962, the cars appeared as the Austin 850 and Morris 850 in North America and France, and in Denmark as the Austin Partner (until 1964) and Morris Mascot (until 1981). The name Mini was first used domestically by BMC for Austin's version in 1961, when the Austin Seven was rebranded as the Austin Mini, somewhat to the surprise of the Sharps Commercials car company (later known as Bond Cars Ltd) who had been using the name Minicar for their three-wheeled vehicles since 1949. However, legal action was somehow averted, and BMC used the name Mini thereafter.Picture...

Mini Classic Cars - Mark I Mini (1959–1967) Part 1Picture Of Mini Classic CarsThe production version of the Mini was demonstrated to the press in April 1959, and by August several thousand cars had been produced ready for the first sales.Picture Of Mini Classic CarsThe name Mini did not appear by itself immediately—the first models being marketed under two of BMC's brand names, Austin and Morris. The name Austin Seven (sometimes written as SE7EN in early publicity material) recalled the popular small Austin 7 of the 1920s and 1930s. The other name used until 1967 in the United Kingdom (and in Commonwealth countries such as Australia), Morris...

Design and development Part 3Picture of Classic Mini Cars 1Sliding windows allowed storage pockets in the hollow doors; reportedly Issigonis sized them to fit a bottle of Gordon's Gin. The boot lid was hinged at the bottom so that the car could be driven with it open to increase luggage space. On early cars the number plate was hinged at the top so that it could swing down to remain visible when the boot lid was open. This feature was later discontinued after it was discovered that exhaust gases could leak into the cockpit when the boot was open.Picture of Classic Mini Cars 2The Mini was designed as a monocoque shell with welded seams visible...

Design And developmentPicture of Classic Mini Cars 1The suspension system, designed by Issigonis's friend Dr. Alex Moulton at Moulton Developments Limited, used compact rubber cones instead of conventional springs. This ingenious space-saving design also featured rising progressive-rate springing of the cones, and provided some natural damping. Built into the subframes, the rubber cone system gave a raw and bumpy ride which was accentuated by the woven-webbing seats, but the rigidity of the rubber cones, together with the wheels being pushed out to the corners of the car, gave the Mini go kart-like handling that would become famous.Picture of...

Design And developmentPicture of Classic Mini Cars 1Designed as project ADO15 (Austin Drawing Office project number 15), the Mini came about because of a fuel shortage caused by the 1956 Suez Crisis. Petrol was once again rationed in the UK, sales of large cars slumped, the market for German Bubble cars boomed. Leonard Lord, the somewhat autocratic head of BMC, reportedly decreed: 'God damn these bloody awful Bubble Cars. We must drive them off the road by designing a proper miniature car'. He laid down some basic design requirements: the car should be contained within a box that measured 10 × 4 × 4 ft (3 × 1.2 × 1.2 m); and the passenger accommodation...

A Brief Overview Of The History Of A Mini Classic CarsPicture of Classic Mini Cars 1The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered an icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout (that allowed 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage) influenced a generation of car-makers.The vehicle is in some ways considered the British equivalent to its German contemporary, the Volkswagen Beetle, which enjoyed similar popularity in North America. In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car...

A Brief Overview Of The History Of A Mini Classic Cars Part 2Picture Of Mini Cooper Classic CarsDemand for the Mini was increasing, not only from the production line but from used Mini dealerships as well. As different Marks of the Mini were introduced, each model evolved, with the Clubman having a longer nose and differing front end to the original Mini design. Between 1959 and 2000 when production of the Mini was brought to a close, the shape of the Mini did not change much at all, in fact the shape of the Mini was registered as a trademark, which is almost unheard of in the car industry.Picture Of Mini Cooper Classic CarsThe curtain was drawn...

A Brief Overview Of The History Of A Mini Classic CarsPicture Of Mini Classic CarsOne of the most iconic cars will be celebrating its 50th birthday in August 2009 - a British classic that turned into a cult classic - the Mini.Picture Of Mini Classic CarsSince the Mini was conceived in 1959 it has become a phenomenon. Originally designed as an fuel efficient, affordable, space saving small car, in the 1960s the Mini was such a success that some of the biggest celebrities in the world owned at least one Mini, including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Peter Sellers and Steve McQueen.The Mark I Mini was updated three times in the UK with the Mark II, Clubman...