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{{Short description|British car model from 1959 to 2000}}
{{cleanup needed|date=April 2024|reason=Poor layout, poor referencing and sections—such as ''50th anniversary''—could be placed somewhere else}}▼
{{About|the 1959–2000 Mini|the Mini models that have been produced since 2001 by BMW|Mini (marque)|and|Mini Hatch|other uses}}
{{Redirect|Cooper S|the Feedtime album|Cooper-S}}
▲{{cleanup
{{Use British English|date=June 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
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*Morris Mini Minor
*Riley Elf
*Wolseley 1000 (South Africa)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150322074704/http://www.miniexperience.com.au/fileadmin/filemount/mag/05_issue/Sth_African.pdf Mix & Match, www.miniexperience.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref>
*Wolseley Hornet}}
| layout = [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|FF layout]]
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*[[Leyland Australia]]
*Thai Motor Corporation (THAMCO)}}
| production = 1959–2000
| production = {{plainlist|*[[Longbridge plant]], [[Birmingham]] (1959–2000)<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/end-of-an-era-as-mini-production-is-halted-634417.html End of era as Mini production is halted independent.co.uk, 4 October 2000]</ref>▼
*[[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]<br />(BMC/Leyland South Africa)<ref>[https://www.aronline.co.uk/around-the-world/around-the-world-south-africa/ Around the world Leyland South Africa/Leykor, aronline.co.uk, 1 april 2020]</ref>▼
*[[Lambrate]], [[Milan]], [[Italy]]<br />([[Innocenti Mini]])<ref>[http://www.lambratedesigndistrict.com/en/about-us Lambrate design district, lambratedesigndistrict.com]</ref>}}▼
| class = [[City car]] ([[A-segment|A]])
| body_style = {{plainlist|
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*[[Austin Metro]]<ref name="[1]">{{cite web |title=A British Car to Beat the World: 40 years of the Metro |date=30 July 2020 |url=https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/a-british-car-to-beat-the-world-40-years-of-the-metro/ |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>
*[[Mini Hatch]]}}
▲|
▲*[[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]<br />(BMC/Leyland South Africa)<ref>[https://www.aronline.co.uk/around-the-world/around-the-world-south-africa/ Around the world Leyland South Africa/Leykor, aronline.co.uk, 1 april 2020]</ref>
▲*[[Lambrate]], [[Milan]], [[Italy]]<br />([[Innocenti Mini]])<ref>[http://www.lambratedesigndistrict.com/en/about-us Lambrate design district, lambratedesigndistrict.com]</ref>}}
}}
The '''Mini''' (developed as '''ADO15''') is a small, two-door, four-seat car
The original Mini is considered an icon of 1960s [[British popular culture]].<ref name="reed1">{{cite book |last=Reed |first=Chris | title=Complete Classic Mini 1959–2000 | isbn=1-899870-60-1 |year=2003 | publisher=Motor Racing |location=Orpington }}</ref><ref name="reed2">{{cite book |last=Reed |first=Chris |title=Complete Mini: 35 Years of Production History, Model Changes, Performance Data |isbn=0-947981-88-8 |year=1994 |publisher=MRP}}</ref><ref name="clausager">{{cite book |last=Clausager |first=Anders |title=Essential Mini Cooper |isbn=1-870979-86-9 |year=1997 |publisher=Bay View Books |location=Bideford, Devon }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The humble Mini leaves supercars trailing to be named Britain's best-ever motor |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mini-named-britains-best-ever-3504379 |agency=Mirror |date=30 October 2016}}</ref> Its space-saving [[transverse engine]] and [[front-wheel drive]] layout – allowing 80% of the area of the car's [[floorpan]] to be used for passengers and luggage – influenced a generation of car makers.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Martin |last1=Buckley |first2=Chris |last2=Rees |title=Cars: An encyclopaedia of the world's most fabulous automobiles |year=2006 |publisher=Hermes House |isbn=1-84309-266-2 |quote=The BMC Mini, launched in 1959, is Britain's most influential car ever. It defined a new genre. Other cars used [[front-wheel drive]] and transverse engines before, but none in such a small space; this was possible as the engine is mounted on top of the gearbox.}}</ref> In 1999, the Mini was voted the second-most influential [[Car of the Century|car of the 20th century]], behind the [[Ford Model T]], and ahead of the [[Citroën DS]] and [[Volkswagen Beetle]].<ref name="nytimes">[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02E1DF1439F937A15751C1A96F958260 "This Just In: Model T Gets Award"], James G. Cobb, ''[[The New York Times]]'', 24 December 1999</ref><ref name="auto.howstuffworks.com">{{cite web|last=Strickland |first=Jonathan |url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/mini-cooper.htm |title=How the MINI Cooper Works |publisher=Auto.howstuffworks.com |access-date=20 July 2010|date=21 March 2007 }}</ref> The front-wheel-drive, transverse-engine layout were used in many other "supermini" style car designs such as [[Honda N360]] (1967), [[Nissan Cherry]] (1970), and [[Fiat 127]] (1971). The layout was also adapted for larger subcompact designs.
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Ten-inch (254 mm) wheels were specified, so new tyres had to be developed, the initial contract going to [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]]. Issigonis went to Dunlop stating that he wanted even smaller, {{convert|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheels (even though he had already settled on 10-inch). An agreement was made on the 10-inch size, after Dunlop rejected the eight-inch proposition.
Many features were designed into the ADO15's interior to maximise its passenger and luggage space on top of the major savings allowed by the transverse engine and 10-inch wheels. Sliding windows allowed single-skin doors to be fitted, improving elbow room and reducing costs. A bracing bar was fitted across the door frame to brace the single skin and this was later adapted into a large storage bin on each door. Issigonis later said that he had sized the bins to carry the ingredients of his favourite drink, a [[Martini (cocktail)|dry martini]]<ref name="issigbio"/> in the correct proportions (one bottle of [[vermouth]] and 2 of [[Gordon's Gin]]). Similar bins were provided outboard of the rear seats, also serving a dual function of bracing the single-skin body panel. Small items could also be stowed under the rear seats, and early Minis were sold with optional [[wicker]] baskets specially shaped to slot under the seats. The fixed rear parcel shelf contributed to the rigidity of the body shell, although it did preclude fitting the ADO15 with a [[hatchback]]. The [[trunk (automobile)|boot]] lid was hinged at the bottom so that the car could be driven with it open to increase luggage space. On early cars, the [[vehicle registration plate|number plate]], together with its light, was hinged at the top so that it could swing down to remain visible when the boot lid was open. This feature was later discontinued after it was discovered that exhaust gases could leak into the cockpit when the boot was open.
The Mini was designed as a [[monocoque]] shell with welded seams visible on the outside of the car running down the [[A-pillar|A and C pillars]], and between the body and the floor pan. Those that ran from the base of the A-pillar to the wheel well were described as 'everted' (lit., 'turned outward') to provide more room for the front seat occupants{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}. To further simplify construction, the hinges for the doors and boot lid were mounted externally. This also saved a small amount of cabin space. It also made the ADO15 very easy to assemble from complete [[knock-down kit]]s in overseas markets with only basic industry. Cars could be assembled with minimal use of [[Jig (tool)|jigs]] as the external seams made the panels largely 'self-aligning'. They also allowed panels to be stacked flat on top of one other for easy shipping. As originally built, all the structural body panels were welded to the top of the single floor pressing, but this caused major problems with water entering the cabin and was quickly changed in the first months of production.
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| designer =
}}
All cars had {{convert|8.4|in|mm|adj=on}} brake discs and plastic wheel arches (Mini Special arches), but retained the same Mark IV body shell shape.
The Mini's 25th anniversary fell in 1984 and British Leyland produced a 'Mini 25' [[List of Mini limited editions#Anniversary editions|limited-edition]] model, both to mark the occasion and to publicise the recent upgrades to the model. This marked the start of a turnaround in the Mini's fortunes. Basic models such as the City and the City E (using the economy-tuned drivetrain from the Metro HLE) filled in the bottom of the Austin-Rover range and still found buyers who wanted a compact [[city car]] that was easy to park and cheap to run. Low purchase and running costs also made the Mini continually popular as a first car for younger drivers, and Austin-Rover introduced a steady stream of [[List of Mini limited editions#Colours|limited editions]] with bright paint colours, body graphics, and trim to appeal to this market. The Mini was also becoming prized as a characterful and nostalgic car in its own right, and the [[List of Mini limited editions#London Collection|London Collection]] of limited-edition models was more upmarket and luxurious and named after affluent or fashionable parts of London.
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{{anchor|Traveller|Countryman}}
==={{anchor|Traveller|Countryman}} Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Mini Countryman (1960–1969)===
[[File:Morris Mini Traveller Mk1.jpg|thumb|Morris Mini Traveller Mk1 with internal fuel tank]]
[[File:Austin Mini 1000 Estate (9018174722).jpg|thumb|Austin Mini Countryman Mk2 with filler cap now moved to the lower right hand side of the car]]
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In October 1961 the fuel tank was relocated to the underneath of the car and the filler cap was moved to low down on the right hand side of the car – the same configuration that was already in use on the Mini Van.
From the start of production both models had a decorative, non-structural, ash wood trim on the rear body, in the style of a pre-war [[shooting-brake]]. This gave the car a similar appearance to the larger Morris Minor Traveller and gave rise to these cars simply being called a [[Woodie (car body style)|woodie]]. It is a popular misconception that the difference between the Traveller and the Countryman is the wood trim, or that only wood-fitted models in the Austin and Morris ranges were respectively called Countryman and Traveller, with the plain versions simply being Estates, but neither of these is the case.{{
In October 1967 the Mk2 version was launched with the same changes as the saloon.
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{{Clear}}
=== Mini Beach (
The Mini Beach cars were built by the British Motor Corporation for hotels and high end customers as a promotional tool from 1961 to 1962. Approximately 15 Beach Minis were built out of 20 planned by BMC back in the day, making it among the rarest factory Minis and wildly valuable today. One sold through Bonhams for $181,500 in 2014, and another changed hands on Bring a Trailer in 2019 for the remarkable sum of $230,000. Original Beach Minis were powered by the early Mini's 848cc A-series motor. The Mini Beach cars were built by hand in house at Longbridge's Experimental Department. They had no doors, no B-pillars, and a spot-welded roof. The seats were similar to a Fiat 500 Jolly and originally made of wicker. An extremely rare booted concept version was made to look more balanced, but few survive today.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/news-articles/the-beach-mini-is-back-thanks-to-one-german-firm/|title=The Beach Mini Is Back Thanks to One German Firm|website=The Beach Mini Is Back Thanks to One German Firm|date=6 July 2022 |access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>
▲Approximately 15 Beach Minis were built out of 20 planned by BMC back in the day, making it among the rarest factory Minis and wildly valuable today. One sold through Bonhams for $181,500 in 2014, and another changed hands on Bring a Trailer in 2019 for the remarkable sum of $230,000. Original Beach Minis were powered by the early Mini's 848cc A-series motor. The Mini Beach cars were built by hand in house at Longbridge's Experimental Department. They had no doors, no B-pillars, and a spot-welded roof. The seats were similar to a Fiat 500 Jolly and originally made of wicker. An extremely rare booted concept version was made to look more balanced, but few survive today.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/news-articles/the-beach-mini-is-back-thanks-to-one-german-firm/|title=The Beach Mini Is Back Thanks to One German Firm|website=The Beach Mini Is Back Thanks to One German Firm|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/mini/mini-classic-beach-cars/ | title=The Mini Beach Cars - experimental Minis for sunnier climes | date=14 November 2019 }}</ref>
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In 1969, under the ownership of British Leyland, the Mini was given a facelift by stylist [[Roy Haynes (designer)|Roy Haynes]], who had previously worked for [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]. The restyled version was called the Mini Clubman, and has a squarer front, protruding some
[[File:Mini Clubman Estate (12769772824).jpg|thumb|left|Mini Clubman Estate|230x230px]]
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In 1971, the 1,275 cc Mini Cooper S was discontinued in the UK, leaving the Mini 1275 GT as the only sporting Mini on sale for the rest of the decade. Innocenti in Italy, however, continued making their own version of the Mini Cooper for some time. While the UK-built 1275 GT was not nearly as quick as a 1275 Mini Cooper S, it was cheaper to buy, run, and insure. It was the first Mini to be equipped with a [[tachometer]]. It also featured a standard-fit close-ratio gearbox, and initially had 10-inch (25.4 cm) Rostyle wheels covering the 7.5inch (19.05 cm) Cooper S type disc brakes, and a boot board; both were dropped in 1974. Performance of the 1275GT was lively for the time, achieving 0–{{convert|60|mph|abbr=on}} in 12.9 seconds, and the excellent mid-range torque offered a {{convert|30|–|50|mph|abbr=on}} time in top gear of only nine seconds. The bluff front, however, meant that the model struggled to reach {{convert|90|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.
From 1975 the standard Clubman and Clubman Estate received the 1098cc engine (as also fitted to the [[Austin Allegro]]) with
Throughout the 1970s, British Leyland continued to produce the classic 1959 "round-front" design, alongside the newer Clubman and 1275 GT models. The long-nose Clubman and 1275 GT offered better crash safety, were better equipped, and had better under-bonnet access, but they were more expensive and aerodynamically inferior to the original 1959 design. The Mini Clubman and 1275 GT were replaced in 1980 by the new hatchback Austin Metro, while production of the original "round-front" Mini design continued for another 20 years. At the end of Clubman and 1275 GT production, 275,583 Clubman saloons, 197,606 Clubman Estates and 110,673 1275 GTs had been made.<ref name="sales"/>
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* October 1961: Introduction of Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet variants<ref name=elf-hornet-register>[http://www.elf-hornet-register.co.uk/Timeline.html Timeline of the Mini (ADO15) Elf/Hornet variant], Elf-hornet-register.co.uk Retrieved 15 February 2016</ref>
* January 1962: All former Austin Seven models now officially called Austin Mini.
* March 1962: pvc seat covers replaced cloth upholstery on entry
* 1962: "De Luxe" and "Super" designations discontinued. "Super de Luxe" designation introduced. Modified instrument panel now included oil pressure and water temperature gauges.<ref name=Autocar1971/>
* March 1963: Introduction of the Austin Mini Cooper 1071 S and Morris Mini Cooper 1071 S 2-door saloons, both with larger 1071 cc {{convert|70|bhp|abbr=on}} engine
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BMC and Issigonis were awarded the [[Dewar Trophy]] by the [[Royal Automobile Club]] (RAC) for the innovative design and production of the Mini.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Dewar Trophy |url=https://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/motoring/trophies-and-awards/the-dewar-trophy/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Royal Automobile Club |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The Mini has won many other awards over the years, including second place in 1999's "Global" [[Car of the Century]] award, behind only the [[Model T Ford]]. In the same competition, run by the prestigious [[Global Automotive Elections Foundation]], the Mini was selected "European Car of the Century". ''[[Grassroots Motorsports]]'' awarded Mini with the Editors' Choice award in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000229033723/http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/ |title=Departments |website=grassrootsmotorsports.com |url-status=dead|archive-date=29 February 2000|date=29 February 2000|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref> The Mini also received awards for "Car of the Century" (''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' magazine 1995)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autocar Names Classic Mini
In the end 5.3 million Minis were sold, making it the most popular British car ever made.
==Sales==
[[File:Morris Mini.jpg|right|thumb|An almond green Mark I Morris Mini Minor]]
At its peak, the Mini was a strong seller in most of the countries where it was sold, with the United Kingdom inevitably receiving the highest volumes. The 1,000,000th Mini came off the production line in 1965,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/millionth-mini |title=Millionth Mini – British Pathé |website=Britishpathe.com |access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref> with the 2,000,000th in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/two-millionth-mini-special |title=Two Millionth Mini – Special – British Pathé |website=Britishpathe.com |date=2014-01-23 |access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref> The 3,000,000th Mini came off the production line in 1972, with the 4,000,000th in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|last=Day |first=James |url=http://libraryofmotoring.info/tag/classic-mini/ |title=classic Mini | library of motoring – An online collection of MINI information |website=Libraryofmotoring.info |date=2 October 2014 |access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref>
It dominated the mini-car market until the arrival of the [[Hillman Imp]] in 1963. It outsold the Imp. Competition arrived with the more modern and practical [[Vauxhall Chevette]] of 1975, but the Mini continued to sell well until its "replacement"—the [[Austin Metro|Metro]]—arrived in 1980. By this time, the Mini's design had been overtaken by numerous more modern and practical vehicles.
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* [http://www.austinmemories.com/ Austin Memories] – History of Austin and Longbridge
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130227065452/http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ Heritage Motor Centre] – A collection of British heritage cars and artefacts, including many historic Minis, Mini prototypes, and an Issigonis collection.
* [http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=44066 Issigonis and the 1,000,000th mini] ([[Pathé News|Pathé newsreel]])
* [http://www.thelastminis.com The Last Minis] – The history of the Mk.7 Mini models produced from 1996 to 2000
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[[Category:Cars powered by transverse 4-cylinder engines]]
[[Category:City cars]]
[[Category:Saloons]]
[[Category:Station wagons]]
[[Category:Vans]]
[[Category:Pickup trucks]]
[[Category:Convertibles]]
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