|
THE MINI IN THE U.K.
1960 - 1970
1960
Flares, free love and flower power, the Sixties were all about revolution, and the Mini was no exception. With its innovative transverse engine and compact design, Mini tore up the car maker's rule book.
However, the Mini met with a rather shocked and bemused reception amongst the very traditional car buying public, and sales were slow to begin with. However the rebellious nature of the sixties meant that the Mini quickly became popular in fashionable areas of London. Various rock stars, actors and fashion designers were seen in Minis and soon everyone was after one. Even the Queen couldn't help herself, and got Issigonis himself to take her for a quick spin around Windsor Park in a Mini.
The first variant to be launched after the saloon was the van, in January. This featured a longer body with the rear doors designed to split vertically allowing the longer car to fit on the same production line as the saloon.
A year later the pick-up was launched, although this proved to be not so popular in the less than sunny British climate, accounting for around 10% of Mini van sales. Windows were added and in September, these variants become the 'Austin Se7en Countryman' and 'Morris Mini Traveller', complete with wood adorning the flanks of the car.
1961
The Mini Cooper
The racing car constructor, John Cooper, was loaned a pre-production car in September for a trip to the Italian Grand Prix. While John towed one of his cars to the track, Roy Salvadori drove the Mini down to Monza beating his team manager who was driving an Aston Martin DB4 at the time! Ferrari's former chief engineer Aurelio Lampredi saw the car and asked to borrow it. He went for hours, finally he returned breathless and excited to exclaim 'If it wasn't so ugly I'd shoot myself'.
John Cooper realised the tremendous sporting potential of the car although Issigonis himself was not keen on creating a performance derivative; where Issigonis saw a saloon car for the masses, John Cooper saw a small four-seater sports car. Back at his workshop, John Cooper's team set about giving the engine more power as well as fitting disc brakes to provide the required braking performance. The BMC Chairman, Sir George Harriman, was so impressed with the result he gave the go-ahead for a limited production run of 1000 cars.
The Mini Cooper gained closer gear ratios, a better gear change, front disc brakes, wider tyres, two-tone trim, a 100 mph speedometer, and for the first time the famous white roof appeared on a Mini. Still basking in the glory of Cooper's back-to-back world championship victories in 1959 and 1960, the 997cc Mini Cooper was launched in July 1961 to a rapturous reception. The resulting surge of demand lead to the car going into full production.
Ex-racer John Cooper created the first in a long line of Mini Coopers. These went on to dominate many motor racing events throughout the 60s, including the world famous Monte Carlo Rally. However in this, its initial guise, the Mini Cooper failed to make a serious mark on the motor racing scene.
1962
The Austin Se7en became known as the Austin Mini. And 3 years after launch, on 12 December the 500,000th Mini was produced. Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom powered the Mini to its first international rally win at the Tulip Rally. The pair later added to their success by winning the German rally and taking third place in Geneva.
1963
Ready for action
Lambrettas and Vespas may have been cool, but were no match for the first Mini Copper S, introduced in March with many great features such as a 1071cc engine, (derived from the Formula Junior racing cars), and larger, servo-assisted discs brakes. The Cooper S went on to become a motor racing legend.
Daniel Richmond's work on the A Series engine was put to good use in the Mini Cooper. From 1071cc this engine produced 70bhp with ease, and the car had livelier acceleration and a higher top speed. In May 1963 the Mini Cooper S was unleashed. It proceeded to blow away the competition in the Alpine Rally leading the touring class from start to finish with Rauno Aaltonen behind the wheel. Such was Mini's dominance of the 1000cc class of the European saloon car championship that British organisers switched to 1300cc to give the opposition a chance. A Mini Cooper still took 2nd place in the 1000cc class and Rob Slotemaker snatched the 1300cc championship in a Downton Mini-Cooper S.
Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon cleaned up in the touring category in the Tour de France, a rally based on hill climbs and race circuits. In a 1071cc car they took third overall and won their class outright.
1964
Racing ahead
A new range of Mini Coopers were introduced, arriving as the 970 and 1275 Cooper S. Mini customers included Peter Sellers and Paul McCartney.
Initially designed for the military, the Mini Moke was launched as a leisure vehicle in August. The Moke was originally intended as an all-purpose military runabout which could be easily air-lifted, dropped by parachute, or even lifted and carried over difficult terrain by a squad of soldiers. The men from the ministry were unimpressed, leaving BMC to search for other market opportunities for the car.
Almost totally lacking in bodywork, the Moke was the ideal car if you wanted to be seen around town. With little or no protection from the elements it failed to find significant number of customers in Great Britain. However, it proved to be more popular in sunnier climates like Australia.
Paddy Hopkirk and co-driver Henry Liddon won the Monte Carlo rally for the first time in a Mini Cooper S (33 EJB).
The Cooper Car Company received the official works contract to run Minis in UK racing, although it had unofficially sponsored it since 1962. Warwick Banks grabed the European touring car crown in his 1000cc Cooper S.
1965
Driven by Timo Makinen with co-driver Paul Easter, Mini (AJB 44B) won the Monte Carlo Rally for the second year in succession. Timo Makinen added yet more silverware to his trophy cabinet, winning the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland in a 1275 Cooper. Works Minis also won the Circuit of Ireland, the Geneva, the Czechoslovak, the Polish, the Three Cities and the RAC rallies. Overall, Minis won a total of 17 international rallies.
1966
The third Monte Carlo win ended in controversy, when the Mini team was disqualified for a technicality.
After winning the Monte Carlo Rally for a second time, many other rival manufacturers with far more powerful cars, felt Mini had cheated them. The French, and in particular the Monegasque organisers became determined that Mini would not complete the hat-trick in 1966. Even before the race even began, steps were taken to prevent Mini winning. The normal handicap system of putting cars into Groups 1, 2, and 3 was changed, making it obvious that only Group 1 cars could win. Mini had always been in Groups 2 or 3 - the classes for modified cars. Group 1 cars had to be in virtually standard production form. 'Production' meant that the manufacturer had to have made 5000 cars within the last 12 months, this had been 1000 in the previous year. After hearing of this dramatic development, BMC increased production of the Mini, and had built 5047 by the qualifying date.
Arriving in Monte Carlo, the team, faced ever-increasing hostility. When asked by the French press what BMC's aim was, the answer of outright victory was continually greeted by a shrug and wave of the arms.
Timo Makinen one of the three drivers made a flying start, crushing the most impressive Group 3 cars and arrived at many stage finishes so fast that he twice found officials unready. The next stages saw much of the same, with the result that 3 Minis went on to sweep the board, taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd to complete the hat-trick of wins. However, for 8 hours French officials furiously debated over the cars, and after many false allegations, eventually disqualified all 3 Minis! Why?
At the end of the first day's racing, an announcement at rally headquarters stated that some cars, mainly British ones, might have headlamps that did not conform to international highway regulations. After a brief check of each car it was announced that a final decision would be made after the race. The Mini team was disqualified solely because the headlamp beam dipped onto the fog lights! Nevertheless the Mini teams were greeted by a hero's welcome at the London Palladium upon their return.
Motor racing continued to enjoy a surge in popularity, with club racing hitting a new high as more than 20,000 turned out to watch a 1000cc race on a cold and wet Boxing Day at Brands Hatch.
1967
Mini finally achieved the hat trick of Monte Carlo victories when Rauno Aaltonen and co-driver Henry Liddon bought home 1st place, avenging the previous year's disqualification. Driven by Timo Makinen, a Mini won the Thousand Lakes Rally again. Hopkirk won the Acropolis Rally.
1968
BMC merged with Triumph, Jaguar and Leyland Trucks, changing their name to British Leyland (BL). As a result of this change, Issigonis was sidelined in a cost saving exercise, where he continued to design and develop at home. His next project - called the '9X' - was a small hatchback, or super Mini. But unfortunately, BL decided not to invest in this project.
Mini Moke production finally ceases in the UK. However, production continued in Australia, where the little car became quite a success. Production continued in the UK until 26,000 had been built. Refusing to die, Moke production continued in Portugal for another 10,000 cars. (Rover Group later finally sold the rights to Cagiva who continued production!)
Mini blasted its way past the opposition to win both the European Touring Car Championship with John Handley at the wheel of the Vita Mini Cooper, as well as the European and British Saloon Car Championship with John Rhodes and his 1300cc Mini, driving for John Cooper Garage's team. Further adding to this year's victories was Gordon Spice in his Arden Mini Cooper who won the 1000cc British Touring Car championship.
Minis were now up against some very serious competition in rallying such as Porsche 911s, Lancia Fulvia HFs and Renualt Gordinis, but Minis still managed third, fourth and fifth in the Monte Carlo Rally.
1969
As Neil Armstrong reached for the moon, Mini sales hit 2 million. They also began to feature wind-up windows and optional heated rear windows.
Mini Mania zoomed in from Europe as Mini Coopers upstaged even Michael Caine in the film 'The Italian Job'.
In recognition for his services to the British automobile industry, Issigonis received a knighthood. Then for a more upmarket appeal, the Clubman was introduced.
1970-71
End of the Cooper?
The Mini range underwent extensive rationalisation helping the total sales to their highest ever level at 318,000. Part of the rationalisation included Donald (later Lord) Stoke's decision to drop the Mini Cooper and production was stopped.
The formal reason given was that the Cooper name leads to high insurance ratings. The 1275GT was introduced instead, and was promptly awarded the same insurance rating as a Cooper!
Sir Alec Issigonis retired and became a consultant to BL. Hot pants and microskirts hit the streets as Britain went decimal.
|
