About: The Mini

The Mini was first built in 1959 by ‘British Motor Corporation’ (BMC).

The original Mini is considered to be a British icon of the 1960s, alongside The Beatles, Twiggy (one of the first supermodels), James Bond, Alfred Hitchcock, and Mary Quant.

The Mini is said to have influenced a generation of car makers due to it’s space saving design. About 80% of the Mini’s floorspace could be used for passengers and luggage.

As the Mini developed, it was first known as the ‘Austin Mini’ and then the ‘Morris Mini’. In the late 1980s it became known as the ‘Rover Mini’.

In 1994, BMW bought the Rover Group, which included the Mini. The Mini continued to be made by the Rover Group until 2000, when BMW sold most of the Rover Group, but kept the Mini brand.

The new modern Mini made by BMW, is technically unrelated to the old car. It is bigger, more powerful, and much sportier than the original Mini, but many people think it is still quite stylish and desirable.

Prices

In 1959, the original ‘Austin Mini’ cost £497  for the standard model, and £537 for the deluxe model.

This is approximately £12,100 (￥2,080,000), and £13,070 (￥2,250,000) in today’s money (2014).

In 2000, the last Mini produced by the Rover Group, ‘John Cooper Mini’, cost £10,995 (￥1,890,000).

In 2014, a new Mini costs around £14,300 (￥2,460,000)

Interior

Of course the interior of the Mini has changed over the years. Here are 2 pictures showing the difference between the 1959 model and the 2014 model.

The Union Jack roof

A lot of people associate a Mini with having a Union Jack roof. Have you ever seen one?