What’s the Greatest Machine of the 1960s…the Morris Mini-Minor?

THE MORRIS MINI-MINOR (1959)

Introduced in 1959, the Mini is a small economy car manufactured by the British Motor Corporation - widely considered a British icon of the 1960s.

Its innovative and space-saving layout - particularly its space-saving transverse engine front-wheel drive layout - allowed 80% of the car’s floorpan to be used for whatever the driver and passengers wished, which in turn became a huge influence on a whole generation of car manufacturers.

Its distinctive design was formulated by Sir Alec Issigonis for the British Motor Corporation, and was made at several manufacturing plants around the world: England, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Chile, Italy, Malta, Portugal, South Africa, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Over the years, the Mini has had three major updates - the Mark II, the Clubman and the Mark III.

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT… The Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in 1999, coming just behind the Ford Model T but ahead of the Volkswagen Beetle and the Citroën DS.

TIME WARP… Perhaps one of the most culturally significant uses of the Mini can be found in the 1969 film The Italian Job, famous for its trio of Minis in its epic closing car chase.

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[theondebray]

Remarkable considering that the Mini design was developed in the 1950s, and the inspiration for all FWD transverse engined cars that populate our roads today. Still the most popular car on the club racing circuit, as they are relatively cheap, ALL parts easily available, and all DIY-able. I've always had a Mini (van) since 1969, have just finished restoring my '81 van. 👍

[britishpride]

What a beast of a Morris mini👍they def never expected it to be the most popular car then & even now has a hugh following

[TheOhhblind]

This was absolutely bloody brilliant to watch

[pauljnolan]

An extraordinarily well-done video, informative and entertaining. Thank you very much.

[leifvejby]

First mass produced front wheel driven car? Hold my traction-avant!

[charlesroberts]

Brilliant cars ... I had several of them ... from 850's to 1275's.
Far more character than the current, plastic, tasteless object they call Minis these days.
And on the subject of calling them Minis ... they should be done under the Trades Descriptions Act. Compare these dimensions ... Old Minis L: 120" H: 48" W: 48" Current Minis L: 150" H: 55" W: 68"
I rest my case ;-)

[neilmustow]

My Dad owned 3 Mk 1 Mini's in the 60's loved them to bits his last one was a Morris Mini Cooper Reg No XDL 861 in green with a white roof

[BigFanofCars]

That's my number one favourite car ever!

[stevedickson]

Sorry Chris, i couldn't resist the pun..that "Red Dwarf " of a car sure looks great 👍

[crashbox]

Love Minis, I've had a few, but I disagree that it was the world's first mass-produced front-wheel-drive car. Citroen produced the 7CV/11CV Traction Avant in 1934, they then developed the 2CV between 1936-1939, which finally saw the light of day after the war, and the DS was launched in 1955. All three cars were mass-produced before the Mini was even a drawing on a piece of paper. The 2CV's engineering was actually an inspiration to Alec Issigonis. They had one at the BMC design office in Longbridge for examination. Alex Moulton was very impressed by the design of the little Citroen's suspension, but felt it was over-engineered and too expensive and complicated for the Mini.

[Quinntheeskimo]

Bought one of these new in 1962, from Palace Motors, Birkenhead. It a basic model, like this one, in Sunburst Yellow, so no windscreen washers. I used to keep a washing up liquid bottle full of soapy water in the door pocket. After 3 years if looked very tired, after about 50, 000 miles, and failed the first MOT due to rotten sub frame!

[DudeWivAutism]

I internally scream when ppl chat shit on this beautiful car

[davidjb]

The Mini wasn't the first production Front wheel drive car. The Trabant P500 was introduced 2 years earlier.

[davidprocter]

whilst not transverse I think you will find Citroen produced the first front wheel drive cars in fact the first drawings of the 2cv were done in 1924.

[malasyu]

Nice to see a Hologram review the Mini

[bigedd]

Some preferred the Austin version, including me. I had a 1968 Austin Mini Cooper 998

[mrrolandlawrence]

I was thinking of the jaguar e-type! don't get more classic than that chris. even Enzo Ferrari said it was the most beautiful car ever made. IG also managed to forget to check the regs in the USA so all the wings had to be modified to raise the light height. Whoops. He also created the Austin Maxi. Jack Knight also developed the mini gearbox in a weekend. The mini was not weather weather tested so ALL mk1 ones were recalled for leaks. woops2. Mk1 was the best looking. Surprising no photos of Marc Bolan in his mini? Let's be honest we all love the mini from the Italian Job ;)

[rslover]

I wish cars were still kind of like this, simpler lighter cheaper. I've got an old Suzuki Samurai (Jimney for those outside of the US) it's the easiest car I've ever owned to repair. Small simple and very capable.

[tonydoggett]

There was a standard plastic cowl, that was on the distributor (at least on Aussie built mini’s ) that greatly increases the reliability in the rain.

[kyle]

Citroen traction-avant was front wheel drive and mass produced, and that was 30 years earlier.