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The Ultimate History of The Mini

Part of the '8 DVD Box Set – Classic Cars' reviewed by John Cooper Running Time - 68 minutes www.greenumbrella.co.uk

As with some of the earlier reviews in this boxset, I feel I must declare a bias towards this DVD before I even start. Regular readers may remember that I drive a BMW (I have to make sure I get it correct as it can be an emotive subject) Mini Cooper S. In addition to this, I’m British and we’re talking here about a car that I personally believe along with the E-type symbolises everything great about the British motor industry (but it’s German I hear you shout).

Among the DVDs in the boxset, this one could be considered unique in that it is dedicated to a single model. This of course assumes that you can agree that the new Mini retains the qualities of the original Issigonis design whilst being a modern car to meet modern designs, and is worthy of using the name.

Being a single model DVD, the running order at first glance seems briefer that others reviewed, but still runs to 68 minutes:

1. Introduction
2. Early years
3. Coopers
4. Wilderness
5. BMW

The DVD starts with interviews of Mini owners as they are about to embark on their annual London to Brighton run. This starts a theme and message that comes across throughout the whole film and that is that the whole Mini scene is about having fun. Cars featured throughout vary from being the very earliest models to the most recent BMW models; from concours examples to highly modified ones such as the drastically shortened ‘Mini Mini’ and a 4x4 Mini monster truck. There doesn’t appear to be any sort of snobbery or elitism.

The film naturally then starts the story at the beginning. Large portions of it are animated by modern interviews with Dr Alex Moulton who was responsible for the Mini’s suspension. It features only brief footage of Issigonis himself, which is a shame and left me thinking that I hope that modern designers have the foresight (and vanity) to set on record what thought processes they went through. However, a point made in the film is that modern cars are no longer designed by individuals, but by committees and computers, so maybe this wouldn’t really work.

Getting back to the DVD, it tells how the then head of BMC, Leonard Lord entrusted the creation of the Mini to Alec Issigonis who put together a small team and quickly set to work creating a prototype, taking a lot of the design qualities from the 2CV. After only a 5minute drive around Longbridge in the prototype, Leonard Lord approved the project and gave Issigonis 12 months to get the car into production – this would be only 15 months after the design team had started work!

The Mini was presented to the press in August 1959. When it was released to the public, initial uptake was slow and there were a number of technical teething problems. It seemed that at £496 it didn’t have any obvious market, being too cheap for the car buying middle classes and for a while there was a real risk that the car may be a commercial failure. However, it was the design that eventually won people over and sales started to increase.

The Mini range was quickly extended with a van and traveller within a year and by a pickup in 1961. In 1965 automatic transmission was also offered.

The most unusual variant however was probably the Moke, originally intended as a military vehicle but ultimately failing in this role (due to a lack of ground clearance) and despite the production of a twin-engined prototype.

In 1960, BMC entered a team of 3 cars in the Monte Carlo rally. Initially the cars looked underpowered but its strengths started to show as the conditions worsened. John Cooper however recognised the car’s potential realising that if you take a safe and stable car and add a fast engine then you have the formula for a sports car.

The first Cooper appeared in 1961 with a 997cc engine. 1963 saw the introduction of the 1071cc Cooper S quickly followed a year later by the 1275cc. This was a winning relationship and the Mini Coopers reigned on track and in rallies for 10 years. This included 4 Monte Carlo wins if you count 1966 when they were eventually disqualified for having incorrect headlight bulbs! The film includes amusing footage of Timo Makinen taking his UK driving test in a works Mini.

Unfortunately, the agreement with Cooper came to an end in 1971 and the wilderness years started for the Mini. Between 1980 and 2000, over 40 special editions were brought out in an attempt to revive sales and the Cooper name was re-introduced in 1990. Finally, after 41 continuous years, Mini production finally ceased in 2000.

But as you’ll know, that was not the end of the Mini story. BMW owned the rights to the Mini name and wanted to keep the unique character of the Mini but bring it into the 21st century. After 3 years development and building a £500m factory in Oxford the Min One (90bhp) and the Mini Cooper (115bhp) were offered for sale in July 2001. 2002 saw the introduction of the 160bhp supercharged Cooper S and 2003 and the diesel to meet customer demand.

As ever, the Mini was an immediate target for modifications but once again the John Cooper Works conversion is the only one authorised, producing a 200bhp Cooper S.

As you’ll all see on our roads on a daily basis, the BMW Mini has become equally successful, not necessarily through pure nostalgia but in its own right.

You’ve no doubt gathered that I think this is a great DVD.