Mini History - Overview: Other MINI Cooper I

History of the Mini

Due to an oil and gas crisis in the mid 1950's bubble or micro cars such as the BMW Isetta, appeared on the streets in all of the European countries. Driven by competition in the market British Motor Corporation (BMC), one of the world's largest manufacturers of small and medium cars decided to build a small car to compete with the bubble cars.

Designer Alec Issigonis was given the job of producing a miniature version of a car he had designed some 10 years earlier, the highly successful Morris Minor. Leonard Lord head of BMC instructed Issigonis to come up with something that would drive the bubble cars off the road. The new miniature car should be less than 10 feet in length, capable of accommodating four adults and use an existing engine. The design team shortened miniature to "Mini" and the name of the car was born.

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In order to achieve his design objectives, Issigonis decided to devote 80% of the space to passengers and luggage leaving little more than 18 inches in which to place the engine and gearbox.

He decided that this could only be achieved by using a transverse engine and front wheel drive. While this layout had previously been used by other manufacturers, Issigonis could not package a conventional transmission within the confines of his vehicle size objectives. He eventually settled on the unique idea of positioning the transmission in the engine sump. To maximize interior space he decided to adopt the 'wheel at each corner' configuration.

The design was not without its problems as many technical difficulties had to be overcome. The drive shafts used technology from submarine periscopes, the small tires had to be specially developed for longer wear and an oil was needed that could be shared by the engine and gearbox.

In August of 1959, just two years after the prototype had been driven, the Mini rolled off the production line in two versions - the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven. The motoring press was immediately impressed with the handling of the car and its space efficiency.

While not designed as a sports car, its dynamic capabilities ensured the Mini would be driven like a sports car.

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The Cooper Name

John Cooper, a Formula 1 car builder, having driven the Mini during its development saw more than just a simple economy car and wanted to exploit the Mini's power to weight ratio for racing.

In 1961 the first version of the Mini Cooper was launched with a larger (997cc) more powerful engine (55bhp) and disc brakes fitted to the miniscule 10" Mini wheels. The Mini Cooper was continuously developed and the name quickly became synonymous with affordable motor racing and rallying.

1963 saw the emergence of the Mini Cooper S with larger more powerful engines, improved brakes and gearbox, larger wheels and the beginning of the trademark white roof. The Cooper S took the motorsport world by storm with its outstanding chassis and power to weight ratio. Produced with an assortment of engines (1071 cc, 970cc and 1275cc) a Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964,1965 and 1966.

BMC ended its relationship with John Cooper in 1971 and the Mini Cooper disappeared until it was re-introduced in 1991.

Mini Variations

In addition to the the Mini and Mini Cooper, four other badge names owned by British Motor Corporation were used on the Mini, these being the Austin, Morris, Wolseley and Riley. In later years the ERA badge was used for a very special low volume turbo-charged version.

Over the years many different body types were available. Pick-up, van, estate and cabriolet versions were produced along with Wolseley and Riley versions which had their own distinctive vertical grills and tail fins. Perhaps the most unusual model was the Mini Moke which was an open-air utility vehicle originally designed for agricultural and military use but which eventually found favor as a fun vehicle. The Moke was also used as a test-bed for a bizarre four wheel drive design which was fitted with a separate engine at each end of the car. This idea was eventually abandoned.

The Mini proved to be an accessories "Gold Mine". A huge market unfolded as customers demanded the ability to personalize their Mini with every conceivable body, chassis and engine tuning accessory.

Between 1959 and 2000 some 5.3 million Mini were produced in various plants in Birmingham and Oxford, U.K., Belgium, Italy and Spain.

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Introducing the MINI COOPER

The design objective for the new MINI COOPER was to produce the most emotive small car in the world. To achieve this target the MINI is the best handling, performing and equipped car in its class.

Manufactured in an updated version of the original Oxford plant the MINI COOPER preserves the unique character of the old Mini, while fulfilling the MINI basic product values of safety, quality, efficient cost of ownership and environmental responsibility.

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Model Range MINI

1. R50 MINI COOPER
2. R52 MINI Convertible (Cooper and S)
3. R53 MINI COOPER S (Supercharged)

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Mini Badge

The style of the old Mini badge has been retained for the MINI, but has been updated to give a crisper, more modern look to the match the product.

MINI Service

The MINI COOPER is fully integrated in the MINI Group organization. All data relating to the MINI COOPER is available in the BMW Group Service infrastructure (DIS, TIS, KSD and EPC), and in the minidealernet website.

Vehicle Production Anti-Theft Labels

Since 1987, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that the VIN be marked on specific parts of the car during manufacture for theft identification. Some models are exempt if the total number of vehicles imported is below a certain number.

If the vehicle does have the label it is also a reference point for the VIN.

If equipped, the label is placed on the following locations

1. Engine
2. Quarter panels
3. Transmission
4. Shock Tower
5. Front bumper
6. Front Fenders
7. Doors
8. Hood
9. Trunk lid
10. Firewall
11. Rear Bumper

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MINI Main Group Numbering System

MINI uses a group numbering system to aid internal and MINI Center personnel to identify vehicle components or MINI information resources.

The main group numbering system is made of two digits at the beginning of any MINI group number. The following information resources are all organized by the group numbering system.

1. Part Numbers
2. Service Information Bulletins
3. Repair Manuals
4. Tightening Torques
5. Electrical Troubleshooting Manuals
6. Warranty Labor and Defect codes
7. Technical Reference Information
8. Technical Data
9. Special Tool Catalog
10. Diagnosis Program Test Modules

MINI MAIN GROUP NUMBERING DESCRIPTION CHART

Technical Data

TECHNICAL DATA

Overall Gear Ratios

OVERALL GEAR RATIOS

Driveline Data

DRIVELINE TECHNICAL DATA

Chassis Data

CHASSIS TECHNICAL DATA

Performance Data

PERFORMANCE TECHNICAL DATA

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VEHICLE DIMENSIONS SPECIFICATION

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