Some cars are long, some are colourful, and some are small and appealing like everyone's beloved Mini Cooper. In this write-up, Tatler tells you a thing or two about its humble beginnings
Mini Cooper has every feature anyone can possibly love in a car—exceptional design, compactness, and appeal that strikes even distant onlookers. The production of these small yet impressive vehicles dates back to 1959, and from then until 2000, it was manufactured by the English-based company British Motor Corporation.
By the early 2000's, the luxury vehicle group BMW bought the Mini and added their personal touch to the car. The rest, as they say, is history.
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In this write-up, Tatler tells you more about the growth of our beloved Minis.
Inspiration
Post-World War II had a lot to do with the conception of the Mini. In England, the Suez Crisis increased fuel prices, and many people started to ditch large vehicles that consume more gas. Leonard Percy Lord, the captain of British Motor Corporation, issued his top engineer Alec Issigonis one big challenge: design a small, affordable, and fuel-efficient car that can ferry four adults.
In 1959, Issigonis came up with a small vehicle that had a lot of room in the cockpit. This way, the wheels were pushed out to the corners, turning the engine sideways and giving the car more stability in tight turns.
As fate would have it, people began to recognise that the Mini was not merely a car. It is a classic British style in a low-cost and nimble package that came to symbolise independence and spontaneity.
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