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Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on Jan 13, 2015, we’ll be diving into our archives to bring you some of the gold you might have missed from our early days.
Earlier last year, we shared Sumner Norman’s Mini, but as it’s the new year, we wanted to reflect on some of our favorite stories. So we’ve created a Petrolicious infographic that is chock full of interesting tidbits about the iconic car. For instance, did you know that the Mini was the first British car to sell over one million models?
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36.2 MPG, real room for four, and the weight of an Ariel Atom, at half the price of a Mitsubishi Mirage, in 1959! Sure, no airbags, no ABS, and less crash structure than a soda can… But, hey! Didn´t we learn ANYTHING in the last 56 years? I´m no rocket scientist, but am I the only one thinking of a PET 3D-printed on a steel-or-aluminum-frame version of if with a 50Kw electric engine and a 10kw/hr battery carving canyons? Or even with a tiny 1-liter, high-revying 3-pot from some kei-car? Or maybe I just need to stop taking my crazy pills before leaving comments…
You are correct Neil. The Morris Minor achieved one million units about four years before the Mini.
Some sources claim that it was achieved in February 1961, others in December 1960. Whatever date it was, to commemorate the event a special edition called, imaginatively, The Minor Million, was produced in a rather fetching shade of lilac. Coincidentally, one of the lilac cars has just been up for auction [url=”http://rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1071712″]here[/url]
The Mini achieved one million in 1965. There is a short video about it [url=”http://www.britishpathe.com/video/millionth-mini”]here[/url]
You’ve missed the single most important fact of them all in my opinion . The man for whom without the Mini would of never taken off as it was he that sorted out what was up until his involvement a suspension barely worthy of a Horse & Buggy , never mind what was to become an iconic car
I’m talking of course about the late great Sir ( Dr ) Alex Moulton . The man ( and his family ) with more automotive patents than GM and Goodyear combined … as well as the man who’s patents still exist on 85\% of the cars still being manufactured today
Now there’s a story seldom told and one even most Brits are unaware of . I’m talking of course about the story of Sir ( Dr ) Alex Moulton and his contributions to the automobile as we know it . And by the way . I am the proud owner/rider of a Moulton bicycle . The one bike that does fit into a Mini as well as a MINI !
You’ve also missed out on several of the other Mini variants including and especially those that came [ and still come with the new BMW MINI ] from Bradfords
I will always have an enormous affection for Minis. To cut a long story short, it was the car I first drove after passing my test, as I was insured on my mother’s car. It was fantastic to drive anywhere except motorways where it was a little hairy. It was the first car I was stopped by the police driving (the first time when I drove it on my own. After realising very quickly that I was a new driver, I was advised to ‘spray some WD40 on the distributer’). Some years later I saw my dream car parked at work a Rover 1.3i with sports-pack (all the headlights, sun roof, massive wheels and leather seats). It was for sale and I bought it as quickly as I could sell my old MGBGT. So I am one of the few that can say, ‘I have owned and driven my dream car’ (see lower your sights and realise your dreams). It rusted terribly, bits fell off after a few years and batteries died, but it was beautiful and with real character.