Although everyone has their own reasons for holding the Mini so highly, there is one thing we can all agree upon: the classic way it drives.
“Success” is the ability to overcome failures without losing enthusiasm. It is not clear if Sir Winston Churchill said it during the rife wartime austerity. But you know what? This famous quote sums up Britain perfectly. We suffered a series of indignable, horrendous, and often violent, events during the first half century. These included crime, death, and disease. We persevered, pushing the limits of engineering, design, and technology in the face of asceticism.
Our tiny island was the birthplace of television, telephone communication and the computer. But if you want to see an example where Blighty has defied the odds, this is it. The humble Mini.
Mini was launched in August 1959 to a skeptical and reserved buyer public. Mini sales started slow despite the theatrical media inauguration. The Mini’s iconic shape and image became a worldwide icon when it was produced at Birmingham’s Longbridge factory in October 2000. Lulu drove the final Mini.
Everybody loves the Mini. No other vehicle has achieved the same level of acceptance. Fan scenes are filled with the kind of hysteria that is reserved for prepubescent boy band members. There’s cult pop art using the famous outline to sell posters and music albums as well as films and other British-related items to the starry-eyed tourist.
The Mini, like the Jaguar E-Type before it and William Lyons’ Jaguar E-Type before it, offers a decade of freedom and love. It is a symbol of the 1960s and captures the spirit of SwingingLondon.
Is that all that makes us love Alec Issigonis’ Mini? The Mini may not be able to shake its nostalgic, cute image but it is a great driver’s car. It also deserves praise for its engineering excellence. That’s what we tried to prove in the Welsh countryside.
The hillsides are a welcome sight
Ian Edwards and his family live just outside of Cardiff amid the stunning natural beauty and steep gradients that make up the beautiful Welsh scenery. Austin-Rover’s former employee, Ian Edwards knows a lot about Solihull, Longbridge and Cowley. Ian managed to climb the sales ladder and eventually earned a MG Montego Turbo company vehicle; something that is highly sought-after, despite it being – as Ian puts it – “highly hazardous.”
“I had seen another member of the sales team cruising around in an MG Maestro Turbo and knew that I was outselling him. Ian giggles, his nostalgia for the long-dead brand making his eyes melancholy. I ran into the manager’s office and let loose. He slipped some keys across the desk in my direction without even looking up. They were for a Montego Turbo. I was so grateful that I didn’t even say anything and went out to play.
He continued: “It was hazardous. It was really dangerous. It’s not like Turbo lag and torque steer. The power was too much for the chassis. It was terrifying, but it was unbelievably fast. It was a wonderful thing that I loved, but it had to be returned before it could kill me.”
The Montego Turbo can reach 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 7 seconds. It also boasts 150 horsepower and can eat a set in less than 15 minutes. Ian’s Austin-Rover is slightly slower. The car is actually a damp squib. It can go from a standstill at 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 13 seconds and can reach 90 mph (145 km/h). This classic gem is a great choice for anyone looking to have fun and not be restricted.
Two bright headlamps shine in the mid-morning sun as Ian’s garage door retracts. This stance is heart-warmingly illuminated by the encroaching sun’s rays. The door opens with a steady thump and a classic Mini sits on the street, surrounded by modern cars and Audis. The oil marks on the drive indicated that it was a British product.
Ian’s example, however, is truly exceptional. It’s not only a Mini 25 (so named to commemorate the model’s 25th Anniversary in 1984), but it’s also unique and worthy of “world heritage” status. Although B821 ANY started out as a factory special, it has been tuned and breathed in, giving it more cabin atmosphere than the Britannia royal boat.
Grey Flint velour fabric in Rover-style Grey Flint is used for the seats. It is complemented by red velvet piping, seatbelt webbing and contrast red velvet piping. Deep carpet is underfoot as well as the kick-strips at the doors and storage bins. This is a step up from the utilitarian Mini. The storage bins are not standard, and Ian has rescued them from a Metro.
Additional 25-model special features include velor headrests with embalmed “25” motifs on fabric, zipped seats pockets, and a tachometer in the triple-dial instrument binnacle. After the drums failed to withstand the Rover boss’s wife’s crash into a wall, disc brakes were installed for safety.
Ian’s car also features a retractable Webasto Sunroof, which was inspired by the 1992 Mini British Open Classic. This is the largest such item ever fitted to a Mini. This means that people who are over 72 inches can still fit in the car with relative comfort.
Mini anoraks might find the September 5, 1984 registration date more fascinating than the others. 5.9.84 combines both the first year of Mini production and the 25th anniversary. Moving on…
Ian explains that Ian’s goal was to create a Mini that is understated from a visual perspective. However, Ian says it was the type of car Rover would have made if they had been more brave. It runs on Minilite 12-inch wheels with Pickett and Wood arches. Original Nimbus Grey bumpers have been replaced by chrome with over-riders from Mk1. The badges, including the Union Jacks, are from a Rover Group model. Even an Aston Martin can have the fuel cap.
Ian has also made a few adjustments under the bonnet. Behind the Mini’s adorable little face is a Stage 1 kit and an upgraded camshaft. A few years ago, the engine was completely rebuilt. This means that the original 40-hp 998cc engine produces more power than its original owner. Ian is now able to climb hills without worrying or having to use second gear.
Ian explains that “I visualized in my mind how I wanted the Mini” to look.” It was something I saw in my head for many years before I could afford the car. Nigel from Somerford Mini was able to share my thoughts and did an amazing job. Although the wooden dashboard and sound system are not original, the resprays and decals look great. Since May 15, 1990, I have owned the car and it has never let me down.”
This omen is a sign that it’s time for you to take the open road…
“Put your feet down, you’ll lose them easily”
A modern Mini thunders along the road to an exhaust note reminiscent electronic manipulation choir of Furbies. However, the pea-shooter exhaust of the 25’s Mini is turgid and faintly funny.
The current Hyundai i10 is as close as the original Mini’s design can be. It may not make a sound like an animatronic kitten but it has the Mini’s raw sound. This car is pure joy on wheels. It is a car that you can’t be mad at, even when it leaves you stranded on the side of the road, with oil and smoke gushing from every crevice. You can only manage a mild smirk and a casual “Oh, you!”
The Mini’s aerodynamic characteristics make it possible to reach speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h). Any speed increase feels enough to give you goosebumps when your knees are just inches from the dashboard slab. You can feel a childlike joy when you reach 50 mph (80 km/h).
Rover opted not to implement the necessary engineering to add a fifth gear. Road noise and engine noise combined with a rough ride give this car an illusion of speed. The A-series engine packs an impressive punch. The Mini handles like a Velcro cat when you accelerate into corners. While pretending to be Michael Caine, the Mini’s Turin gang, the heavy steering ensures pinpoint accuracy.
The Mini’s greatest enemy was the steep incline, as the old joke went. Ironically, as we approach the impossibly high hills, Ian’s 25 moves at a much faster pace than any other vehicle. The little tires are able to grip the asphalt with ease, and then they swerve into every bend with a stuttering whine from their gearboxes. There’s no traffic jam.
An Austin-Rover Mini in the 1980s, or any other decade, was not able to have power steering. This car’s unmolested feedback gives the car the ability to make tight S-bends at the edge of a Welsh crevasse without having to tumble down the levee like a fireball. The under-developed drivetrain can make driving feel spirited.
Every bump vibrates through the interior like an explosion, overpowering any revvy engine’s high end drone and juddering your shoulders and elbows. As you glide around every bend, the Mini’s front ends dig in hard.
Although the chassis might look like it belongs in a world of tiny-print rags or distorted black and white television, its capabilities are amazing. If you overcook the chassis, the front end may slide down like a family Jack Russell on laminate flooring. However, it is possible to lose control if you push very hard.
The cliched silver Audi, nine inches from the Mini’s chromed rear bumper, follows us eventually. But not even the friendly German can match the 25’s agile vivacity around corners. As the road curves out, Lord Audi’s demeanour changes from being annoyed that we are there to a furious rage that he cannot get past. Although Team Mini might be meditating at 6000 rpm, it is only when these budget Goldeneye reenactors face a straight stretch that the Panzer tank can continue its journey. Ian and I may laugh, while he might continue to power along.
As we enter Ferndale, the feeling is felt by all who see the car passing. Admirable people of all ages look at us as we scoot down the street. They either laugh with nostalgia or revel in the intricate design.
Children shout and point at the Mini’s tiny shape, which tugs at their heartstrings the same way that stressed mothers obsess over endless episodes of Peppapig.
The Mini is a snapshot of the trends of each decade. It culminates in a cocktail full of happy memories and laughter. Although it was initially rejected by a curious customer at launch, 60 were eventually given away to any celebrity with an endorsement license. However, the Mini became so beloved by Brits that it is now part of their family.
It is human nature to ananthropomorphize inanimate objects. This means that they can be given personalities and read faces. The original Mini was the perfect relative when it came to naming cars and giving them a gender. It was able to slip through the social network and join Range Rover’s classless plinth, to which many designers aspired. As we are about to discover, you could do anything with a Mini.
Our ludicrous behavior of whizzing around roundabouts and speeding out of junctions is immediately forgiven by other drivers. We would be kicked out if we had rammed that many people in a Ford Focus in an effort to get to the next stretch. The “get out jail free” card is given by nostalgia.
You can drive down narrow streets with enough speed to cause a heart attack in your passenger. Ian is keenly showing this by crying for mercy and clamping the door handle of my passenger. Ian darts through the automotive assault course, where normally only one car can fit between parked vehicles.
Other drivers are quick to smile at the silver Mini and wave with wistfulness when they see it. The model’s ability to respond in towns quickly demonstrates how important these classics are in urban areas.
When our time in the Mini 25 is over, and the car is back in its garage again, I feel the same sadness as when my best friend from childhood would call me for tea. The world suddenly felt duller when I was left alone on the streets, without the company of my childhood best friend. I feel real emotions because of stupid car.
The classic Mini is why we love it.
We can’t talk about the Mini’s greatness without mentioning its downsides. They can corrode extremely quickly. They can be very reliable and will burn oil if they are not taken care of. You will pay the price if you run one into the ground.
You should also consider crash safety, even though the Mini isn’t quite as deadly as you might think. A rusty Mini will collapse like a paper bag, and rip everything inside if it collides with a wall at 40 MPH (64 Kph). But what other structurally impaired car would? To prove that urban legends are true, Channel HTML5 actually tested an old Mini in an accident. Parkers awarded the 1996 Rover Mini three stars for safety after installing a driver’s airbag, side-impact bars, and a driver’s seatbelt.
The Mini’s design flaws, like all classic cars, are concealed behind its adorable face. But that doesn’t diminish the Mini’s brilliance. These imperfections make the Mini feel like a childhood toy. Every Mini was unique and tailored to each person’s circumstances. Some were polished to within a nanon of their lives, while others were neglected and abused, but still an integral part of every day life. In van form for families and commuters, the Mini was once the heart of the British economy.
Everyone has one or knows someone who had one as their first car. It was there to witness first encounters with opposite sex and it was always there as you got your diploma, started your job, went to the coast, married, or laid to rest a family member.
After one MoT test, filled with filler from the rotten sills and a few more, it was time to say goodbye. The heart broke and the eyes wept. Everybody looks back on the Mini in their best, most difficult, and most happy times. That’s why we love it.
It was far from perfect as a car when it was new. Although it was unable to carry more than a few shopping bags and was largely ineffective on motorways, it was a first taste of freedom. It was a real ticket to the open road. Many Minis were lost as the generations grew older and the demands of life became too much. But they left many with powerful memories that will stay with us forever.
These are the main reasons we love the vehicle. It is our little friend that has become a worldwide icon. It was, and still is, a driving experience that’s as close as humans have ever been able.