The Mini is an emblem of British ingenuity, revolutionary design and our insatiable thirst for enjoyable — however what do you actually know concerning the automotive’s evolution and the impact it had on the motoring public and of its designer Sir Alec Issigonis?
Listed here are 15 extraordinary details concerning the Mini, the little automotive that made such an enormous and lasting impact on Britain’s motoring culture, and its creator Issigonis.
The Mini was designed by Alec Issigonis and produced by the British Motor Company (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The unique is taken into account an icon of Sixties British fashionable tradition, whereas extra trendy Minis stay as the usual bearer of cool Britannia.
However all of us knew that didn’t we? Now right here’s some Mini details you in all probability didn’t know.
![The Mini is a symbol of British ingenuity, innovative design and our insatiable thirst for fun — but what do you really know about the car’s evolution and the effect it had on the motoring public and of its designer Alec Issigonis? Here the team at Adrian Flux reveal 17 weird and wonderful facts about the Mini, the little car that made such a big and lasting impact on Britain’s motoring culture, and its creator Issigonis. The Mini was designed by Alec Issigonis and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered an icon of 1960s British popular culture, while more modern Minis remain as the standard bearer of cool Britannia. But we all knew that didn’t we? Now here’s for some Mini stuff you probably didn’t know. [H2] 1 Well connected Alec Issigonis was an Englishman born in Turkey, of Greek origin and through his mother's kinships, was a first cousin once removed to BMW and Volkswagen director Bernd Pischetsrieder. [H2] 2 Driven by oil crisis The design and manufacture of the Mini was born out of necessity. Britain was crippled by the oil crisis in 1956 and the car driving public were crying out for a small economical car, they came no smaller nor more economical than the Mini and the Issigonis creation became a world beater. [H2] 3 The Mini and a breath of fresh air Issigonis put sliding windows into the vehicle to maximize space. The sliders allowed the driver to let air in without sacrificing the space taken up by normal descending crank window mechanisms. [H2] 4 Height of fashion Fashion designer Mary Quant borrowed the idea of the Mini car to come up with the mini skirt. People associated the skirt with the car and her brand blossomed. [H2] 5 Mini record breaker The largest official convoy of Mini Coopers was recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 when 269 of them drove together in a stunt organised by the Vancouver Mini Club. [H2] 6 The Issigonis ashtray “a must” Issigonis was a big smoker and as a result, he had a large ashtray installed in the original Mini in place of a radio. Music, he said, was unnecessary, but an ashtray was a must. Radios were eventually added in later models. [H2] 7 Gin’s in Issigonis liked a drink too and the extra space provided by the sliding windows was intended to hold a bottle of Gordon’s gin, which was his favourite tipple. [H2] 8 And another Mini record Twenty-eight female gymnasts from Sussex set a record when they all crammed themselves into a Mini Cooper at the Tower of London. As far as we know, it’s still a record. [H2] 11 Some traffic jam Around 5,500,000 Minis were produced, the last of which rolled from the production line on October 2, 2000. If they were parked bumper to bumper it would stretch almost 40,000 miles, about twice around the UK’s entire coastline, that’s some legacy of Alec Issigonis. [H2] 12 Something to reflect on For the Mini’s 40th anniversary London Design Museum held a contest for celebrities to customise their cars. David Bowie created a mirror-plated Mini, he liked the fact that anybody looking at the car would see their own reflection in it and then become part of it. [H2] 13 Stirling cross? Racing driver Stirling Moss was banned from driving for a year in 1961. After being caught speeding in a Mini while test driving it for a Sunday newspaper. [H2] 14 A lot of nuts... We haven’t actually counted them but we are reliably informed there were 3,016 screws, nuts and bolts in a typical Issigonis designed Mini and each car took about 30 hours to assemble. In the 1990s the Japanese could build a Nissan Micra in just six hours. [H2] 15 The Fab Four were Mini fans All 4 members of The Beatles owned Mini Coopers. Ringo Starr’s was modified to provide more boot space for his drum kit. Guitars owned by Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison fitted snugly on the back seats of their vehicles. [H2] 16 Honours of Issigonis Issigonis was knighted in the 1969 Queen’s Birthday Honours and his life and greatest work is honoured by a road named "Alec Issigonis Way" on the former site of the Morris Motors factory in Cowley, Oxfordshire. [H2] 17 The ultimate Mini movie The Mini was widely used on TV and in films and most famously in the 1969 gold heist caper, The Italian Job. Fourteen Minis were used in the film which was noted for its classic driving scenes up and down steps, from rooftop to rooftop and through the sewers of Turin (which was actually filmed in new sewers being laid in Coventry). The film starred Michael Caine and Noel Coward. It was Coward’s final film, and not a lot of people know that. [H2] Discounts for Mini owners club membership Adrian Flux is a big fan of the little car. That’s why we offer a generous discount on the cost of your Mini insurance if you are a member of an owners club — there are more than 450 clubs in the UK and half as many again elsewhere in the world. We can arrange great value insurance cover for your Mini whether it’s a classic Issigonis Austin Mini, Rover Mini Cooper S or even a brand new MINI One or Clubman. Whether you bought your Mini as a first car, to take part in the exciting life of the Mini community, or simply a fun runabout, we understand the particular needs that Mini owners have from an insurance policy. Check out our Mini insurance cover or call 0800 369 8590 for a great deal.](https://cdn2.adrianflux.co.uk/wp-fluxposure/uploads/2021/03/Thinktank_Birmingham_-_Issigonis_A-600x399.jpg)
1. Issigonis was nicely linked
Alec Issigonis was an Englishman born in Turkey, of Greek origin and thru his mom’s kinships, was a primary cousin as soon as eliminated to BMW and Volkswagen director Bernd Pischetsrieder.
2. Pushed by oil disaster
The design and manufacture of the Mini was born out of necessity. Britain was crippled by the oil disaster in 1956 and the automotive driving public had been crying out for a small economical automotive. They got here no smaller nor extra economical than the Mini and the Issigonis creation grew to become a world beater.
3. Issigonis Mini a breath of recent air
Issigonis put sliding home windows into the automobile to maximise house. The sliders allowed the driving force to let air in with out sacrificing the house taken up by regular descending crank window mechanisms.
4. Issigonis Mini the peak of style
Clothier Mary Quant borrowed the concept of the Mini automotive to give you the mini skirt. Folks related the skirt with the automotive and her model blossomed.
5. Mini file breaker
The most important official convoy of Mini Coopers was recorded by the Guinness E book of World Information in 2007 when 269 of them drove collectively in a stunt organised by the Vancouver Mini Membership.
6. The Issigonis ashtray “a should”
Issigonis was an enormous smoker and because of this, he had a big ashtray put in within the authentic Mini instead of a radio. Music, he mentioned, was pointless, however an ashtray was a should. Radios had been ultimately added in later fashions.
7. Gin’s in
Issigonis favored a drink too and the additional house offered by the sliding home windows was meant to carry a bottle of Gordon’s gin, which was his favorite tipple.
8. And one other Mini file
Twenty-eight feminine gymnasts from Sussex set a file after they all crammed themselves right into a Mini Cooper on the Tower of London. So far as we all know, it’s nonetheless a file.
9. Some visitors jam
Round 5,500,000 Minis had been produced, the final of which rolled off the manufacturing line on 2nd October 2000. In the event that they had been parked bumper to bumper it might stretch nearly 40,000 miles, about twice across the UK’s complete shoreline. That’s some legacy for Alec Issigonis.
10. One thing to replicate on
For the Mini’s fortieth anniversary, the London Design Museum held a contest for celebrities to customize their vehicles. David Bowie created a mirror-plated Mini, he favored the truth that anyone trying on the automotive would see their very own reflection in it after which turn into a part of it.
11. Stirling Moss caught dashing in a Mini
Racing driver Stirling Moss was banned from driving for a yr in 1961 after being caught dashing whereas take a look at driving a Mini for a Sunday newspaper.
12. Lots of nuts in an Issigonis Mini
We haven’t really counted them however we’re reliably knowledgeable there have been 3,016 screws, nuts and bolts in a typical Issigonis designed Mini and every automotive took about 30 hours to assemble. Within the Nineties the Japanese may construct a Nissan Micra in simply six hours.
13. The Fab 4 had been Mini followers
All 4 members of The Beatles owned Mini Coopers. Ringo Starr’s Mini was modified to supply extra boot house for his drum package. Guitars owned by Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison fitted snugly on the again seats of their automobiles.
Find out which other celebrities owned a Mini here.
- Ringo’s Mini was tailored to accommodate his drum package. Image courtesy of Bonhams
14. Honours for Issigonis
Issigonis was knighted within the 1969 Queen’s Birthday Honours and his life and best work is honoured by a street named “Alec Issigonis Approach” on the previous web site of the Morris Motors manufacturing unit in Cowley, Oxfordshire.
15. The last word Mini film
The Mini was broadly used on TV and in movies and most famously within the 1969 gold heist caper, The Italian Job. There have been 14 Minis used within the movie, which was famous for its basic driving scenes up and down steps, from rooftop to rooftop and thru the sewers of Turin (which was really filmed in new sewers being laid in Coventry). The movie starred Michael Caine and Noel Coward. It was Coward’s ultimate movie, and never lots of people know that.
Mini insurance coverage that you would be able to belief
Adrian Flux is an enormous fan of the little automotive. That’s why we provide a beneficiant low cost on the price of your Mini insurance. And what’s extra in case you belong to a recognised Mini house owners’ membership or fans discussion board, we are able to supply an additional low cost of as much as 15% in your coverage.
We will prepare nice worth insurance coverage cowl in your Mini whether or not it’s a basic Issigonis Austin Mini, Rover Mini Cooper S or perhaps a model new MINI One or Clubman. Give us a name on 0800 369 8590 for a quote or book a callback at a time that fits you.
