The Mini is small British car first made by British Motor Corporation in the 50s. This space saving car was an instant hit all over the globe. Somewhat comparable to the German Volkswagen, it became very popular in North America.
Mini cars are produced in many countries today. Both the Cooper and the Cooper S were more sports like and were often used on the race track. In the beginning the cars were marketed under Austin and Morris and it was not until 1969 that Mini had its own marquee.
Over the decades, the cars have undergone many modifications but size has always remained the same. The Traveler, Van, Moke, Pick up, and Morris Mini all did well over the years. The Cooper and Cooper S also did well on the rally circuit.
The Mark3 Mini underwent drastic exterior changes with large doors and sliding windows. Throughout the 80s and 90s Minis were fashionable. The company also under went several changes of ownership in the 90. Finally the company was taken over by Rover in the 90s. However, Rover was unable to do much because there were many other smaller cars produced which were much cheaper. The last Mini was made on Oct 4, 2000 and by this time over 5 million Minis had been produced.
Over the years, there have been concerns about the safety of the Mini. Overall, it appears that in a two car collision the smaller is most likely to be more damaged and the driver more likely to be injured.
Mini has become a cultural icon and was widely used in movies and driven by celebrities. In 2000, BMW released its own slightly different version. All of a sudden there was an explosion of people wanting to buy this Mini. The expensive gas also contributed to people buying the small fuel efficient vehicle. Today, the car has made a come back in the USA. Even with the downturn in the economy, the Mini is still selling high.
