Were The Original British Minis Better Than Newer Water Cooled Types ?

If we are going to trace the history of Austin mini we will find out that it dated back from the year 1959 and then onwards in a new reincarnation for the year and new millennium of 2000. This vehicle was originally a construct of British Motor Corporation later the brand being acquired by the German auto manufacturer Bavarian Motors Works known to most simply "BMW." To many it was the final World War 2 post war British insults as the Austin Mini and its sports car version - the Mini Cooper - indeed became symbols of the success of the British auto industry itself worldwide to the greatest satisfaction of the British people. It was the stiff upper lip et all in the greatest of ironies. Yet it can be said , again with the greatest of irony yet again - that is these islanders who taught the Japanese their basic knowledge as well as the benefits of front wheel drive / transverse engine layout in small , fuel efficient economy cars. Hello Toyota and Honda Civic .

Yet innovations and the products that come out of automobile company crisis's are entirely unpredictable to the greatest degree. President Obama's henchman David Axelrod is credited with saying "Never let a good crisis go to waste". In the case of Ford - first it was the economy car the Ford Falcon which led to the huge volume and profitable Mustang product line. In our era it was trucks and high end , even more profitable products such as the Ford Raptor F-150 based rolling stock that did this trick. Yet with the then revolutionary front wheel drive , sideways mounted engine the interior compartment has no large middle "hump" in the floor to take passenger and cargo space away. On top of that the Austin Mini and its Morris Minor re-badged product offered an innovation which was not introduced into American cars until Ford , on its deathbed introduced women into its "focus groups". The Taurus which saved Ford at the time from extinction had side pockets in the door for storage. Believe it or not many drivers and passengers of original Minis used those side pockets in the doors for carting home groceries and the like from the supermarket and shopping. Interestingly even when GM attempted to copy the success of the Ford Taurus and its Mercury Sable product they - with a limited mindset - missed the boat with this simple feature which auto buyers and owners clamored for a lot more than styling and more chrome. The Lumina was essentially a lackluster me2 copycat product with side pockets in the doors wide and big enough only for a few folded maps. Only a Noel Vandal character , say , might purchase such a lackluster , copycat lowest of quality products off a used car dealers' lot or showroom.

Originally this Austin mini was produced in England but later on all parts of the world. This two door car was at first available in the market as Austin and Morris. However during 1969 its name was changed into the Mini. And in 1980, the Mini was again altered and became Austin. As time passed by there were innovations done with Austin that eventually lead to the construct of several models. All models have the same name, Austin mini. In the long run, manufacturers opted to cancel the name Austin and settled with the name Mini alone thus it has been known simply as Mini. The most recently constructed mini dated 2000. However this model does not come up with the supposed expectation.

Austin minis have been widely used in car race competitions. This would definitely give you the idea that this car is a fast car. You would be able to see one in every race track there is. And the most important thing is, it constantly make it to the top. This car has been a winner in several significant contests. That is exactly the reason why this car, in this particular period of time, became one of the most well-liked. You will notice that Austin minis - even very old 60's vintage models are still functional today in most parts of the world especially in Great Britain. Nowadays, this vehicle is one of the most sought after collector's item. The demand is so great that collectors worldwide are willing to pay for overseas shipping just to have them. The cost of shipping from England to their own place maybe very costly but these collectors do not at all mind this. And the price value of this has tremendously increased. The functional Austin mini these days can be sold at a price much greater than the original brand new price. This is a very strong evidence of the uniqueness of this vehicle.

It is no doubt that Austin mini is a very stunning car. Not to mention the reliability and practicality that it has to offer. No car can match the achievements attained by this vehicle. The built of this small car is a wonder. Collectors can have a fully functional Austin mini although most have the restored ones. The restoration though are so good and thorough that even though the car may be an earlier vintage model it will have the sheen , appearance and body condition that you might think that it just came off the assembly line in the UK.