| Forerunner Of Our Modern Front Wheel Drive Autos - The Austin Mini Motor-Car |
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| Written by Shaw U. Allard |
| Tuesday, 19 January 2010 19:12 |
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Many of us know the Austin "Mini" motor-car in its current luxury incarnation - a BMW in drag so to speak. Yet few know of the mini's humble beginnings and its influence that it has had on the auto trade far and wide.
Many of us know the Austin "Mini" motor-car in its current luxury incarnation - a BMW in drag so to speak. Yet few know of the mini's humble beginnings and its influence that it has had on the auto trade far and wide. In the beginning it seems that the venerable Austin Mini did not even have its later badge of fame - its moniker of "Mini". The vehicle was initially introduced as the Austin Se7en and the Morris ( not the Austin factory branded ) Mini-Minor. The only distinction between the Austin factory output model and the Morris branded product being not any major body or mechanical components only the badge and grill of the vehicles. Talk about a forerunner and pre-telling of the auto industry trends to come. In later years when GM Auto engineers being asked the difference between a 1982 compact Cadillac Cimarron in 1982 and its General Motors cousins - the Chevrolet Cavalier, Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Firenza, Pontiac J200 models would be told that in essence the only difference was in the price tag of the new vehicle at their local dealership. Not only small but the Mini proved to be quite a fearsome competitor on the competitive rally circuit. Auto racing is the ultimate test of both a vehicle's mettle , endurance and overall reliability that auto owner's can expect during the lifetime of owning the product. Racing pushes the vehicle's engine, power-train and its basic reliability and performance to the max. Unbelievably the little Mini won 3 major Monte Carlo events in a row , only having the fourth true win denied to it on a technicality. It seemed that the driver Timo M Skinen's car was disqualified in the auto rally race after he took the "checkered flag". Yet it was not until 1969 that the two distinct and different badges - the Morris and Austin badges on the vehicle production lines were dropped in favor of the one product - that came to be known simply as the famed "Austin Mini". The Austin Mini is seen by many in the vintage automotive , automotive history field as being the forerunner and design platform that the original Honda Civic small car economy line was based upon. Real classics die hard - even before the introduction of the current 2000 era reintroduced Mini motor car. Towards the end of lifespan of the factory production of the classic first set of the Austin Mini product, a famed British automotive innovator - Sir Alec Issigonis , who was the initial father and developer of the product line tried his hand to upscale and improve on the setup. It seemed that smaller was even better and the attempt was to produce and even tinier car. What resulted was the '9X" prototype - a hatchback model that was powered by an aluminum powertrain that was 40 % lighter than the Mini's. Even though the product never saw production , the basic styling did live on as a role model of styling to come - in products from as varied auto producers as Fiat , Renault and VW Volkswagen. Even to the end it could be said that the Austin Mini set the standard and curve. Yet DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Derrick Dodge Ram Truck Online - Edmonton Auto Trader Alberta Canada Alberta Canada Largest Dodge Ram Truck Online Chrysler Dealer Edmonton Auto Trader Alberta Canada Auto Private Online Credit Apps Today |