1968 Austin Mini Cooper MKII

Many people thought that creating a high-performance version of the Mini, designed by Alec Issigonis, was impossible and laughable. When racing car manufacturer John Cooper took a test drive in a prototype Mini, he saw competition potential. Cooper had experience turning BMC's A-Series engine and knew that the low profile, minimal weight, and short wheelbase could complement a properly tuned engine and mechanical components. In September of 1961, the Mini Cooper was launched, offering an affordable performance package for those seeking a competitive small-sized automobile. Its racing credentials were soon established as a rally and race winner. Faster versions soon followed with the ultimate Mini of its day being the 1,275cc 'S' version which had 76 horsepower and a top speed of 100 mph.

The Mini won the Monte Carlo Rallies in 1964, 1965, and 1967. They finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the 1966 event but were (unfairly) disqualified for lighting irregularities.

The Mini was birthed from the fuel shortage era caused by the 1956 Suez Crisis, with petrol being rationed in the U.K. Leonard Lord of BMC tasked Issigonis to design a small economy car that would meet demand and could outsell the German bubble cars, Volkswagen Beetles, and the Fiat 500.

The first generation, known as the Mark I Mini, was in production from 1959 through 1967. The Mini was marketed under BMC's two main brand names, Morris and Austin, until 1969, when it became its own marque. The Morris version was known as both the 'Mini' and the 'Morris Mini-Minor.' The Austin was sold as the Austin Seven (sometimes written as SE7EN in reference to the popular Austin 7 of the 1920s and 1930s.)

The mark II Mini was built from 1967 through 1970, having been introduced at the British Motor Show in 1967. It came with a larger rear window, many cosmetic changes, and a redesigned grille. Body styles included a saloon, estate, pickup, and van - all with two doors. The engine (all inline fours) had various sizes and states of tune including 848cc, 998cc, and 1,275cc.

The Mini had a monocoque shell, transversely mounted engine and front-wheel drive.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2020