The car industry is a very passionate industry. The passions of people who are serious car fans should not be underestimated. England is one of the leading countries in this regard, and a car that came to the market here amazed everyone for a long time.
The model we are talking about is, of course, the Mini Cooper. Mini’s were undoubtedly one of the most loved vehicles of the 1900s and it is possible to see that they are highly preferred today. It has become a favorite of families, especially with its price-performance products. So how much do we know about Minis? In this article, we have listed interesting facts about Mini Coopers.
10 interesting facts about Mini:
In 1999, he won second place in the car of the century competition.
The car of the century event was quite large and wide-ranging. Held in the late 90’s, this event was organized by the Global Automotive Choices Foundation and the aim was to identify the most influential cars of the 20th century. Around 700 cars were nominated in the elections starting in 1996. With the involvement of his people, a very comprehensive elimination was made for 3 years and 5 candidates remained for the final. First place was left to the Ford Model T. Because the first car that was produced at an affordable price for that time was the Ford Model T. Mini Cooper, on the other hand, took second place by eliminating popular cars of its time such as Volkswagen Beetle, Porsche 911.
80% of floor space used for passengers and luggage
The idea behind the decision to produce a vehicle like the Mini Cooper was the minority of family cars in the 1900s. Interestingly, in those years, it was not possible to find a thrifty car with enough space for the family and their luggage. Based on this, DMC decided to design the Mini in accordance with this situation. Turning out as planned, the Mini could use 80% of its floor for passengers and luggage, despite its length of 120.2 inches. It was BMC’s great design on the Mini that made this possible. Space saving was achieved with the transverse engine design. This is supported by the front-wheel drive and wheel design on every corner. As a result, Mini has become a fuel-saving vehicle that can fit 1 family or even more.
Has a rich racing history
From the outside, the Mini certainly doesn’t look like a race car. Although its design has a completely sporty air, it is not possible to call it a racing car. But a friend of Mini’s founder saw great potential for racing in Minis and convinced him to prepare the Mini for various competitions held in Europe. 2 special models were developed for the competitions. These models were known as the Cooper and Cooper S. They were also really successful throughout the 60s. It managed to show itself in many competitions such as the British Sedan Car Championship, the British Rally Championship or the European Rally Championship.
Owns the naming rights of BMW Mini
The mini series, as it is known, was first introduced in 1959 by BMC, namely: British Motor Corporation. BMC later changed its name several times. After some company changes, it changed its name to British Leyland in 1968 and Rover Group in 1986. But every successful company can get into a dead end at some point in their career. In the late 1900s, the Rover Group, which was in financial trouble, came up against BMW and bought many shares. In 2000, BMW sold most of its shares to the Rover Group. But he never took the Mini out of his hands. On the contrary, he established an independent division dedicated to the Mini and worked to update the Mini’s design and modernize its image.
The original Mini was very fast
The earliest prototypes of the Mini were built more powerfully than anticipated. Equipped with a 37 hp 946cc engine, the Mini had more engine power than the car could handle. So the engineers reduced the engine capacity to 848cc and reduced its output to 33 hp. The resulting model (Mini Mk1) went from 0 to 60 mph in 26.5 seconds and 75 mph was its maximum capacity. Of course, it was quite successful for its time, although it was a rather ridiculous picture when compared to today’s conditions. For example, the Triumph Herald took 31.3 seconds to reach 60 mph, while the Morris Minor took 36.4 seconds on the 1000.
The original Mini was Britain’s favorite vehicle
One of England’s iconic emblems was the cars it produced. Many iconic vehicles such as Aston Martin, Range Rover or McLaren F1 originated in England. However, none of these vehicles ranked #1 in a 2012 poll by the automotive magazine Autocar. According to polls, the Mini is the best British car of all time. Although many people are surprised by this situation, it is obvious why. Mini’s price-performance cars have officially become a symbol of innovation, and the millions of purchases have proven their success.
Inspired the mini skirt model
Mary Quant was one of the most famous fashion designers of her time. Everyone knew Mary Quant’s name, especially in the 60s, and she had a big hand in the miniskirt fashion that took the world by storm. Quant himself did not directly invent miniskirts, but he does have something to do with the way the name was given. Quant named her mini skirts inspired by Minis. When Mini’s were included in commercials, people associated it more.
It had many different variations and body designs
The mini series has had many different variations and body designs for a long time. The manufacturing company’s targeting of different markets has allowed Minis to exist in many different types of markets. For example, the Wesley Horney was a taller, luxurious version of the Mini aimed at the wealthy. Businesses were also among Mini’s targets. Carrying goods etc. For the construction of the works, models such as Mini Van and Mini Pick-up, which gave importance to functionality rather than appearance, were launched.
The original Mini’s design has not changed in 40 years
The original design of the Mini was loved and appreciated by the local people. For this reason, there has been no significant change in its design for over 40 years. While this is not uncommon in the car market in general, Alec Issigonis (car designer) insisted it was the right move. Of course, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t changed at all. Over the years, they have received minor cosmetic changes and have improved a lot in terms of powertrain. But its main body has never undergone any change. Until BMW bought the Mini in 2000. BMW’s acquisition gave birth to the model we see on the roads today.
The World record for the number of people who can fit in the Classic Mini is 23
We know that one of the Mini’s designs is a family pack. No matter how performance-oriented this design can be, the maximum number of people you can fit in a Mini is calculated as 28. In 2012, a group of trained gymnast girls broke the Guinness World Record with 28 people when they fit into a modern Mini Cooper. The same group made a record attempt in the classic Mini and 23 people were able to enter for a classic Mini Cooper.
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