Biography
Why was this tiny car ever made? And who bought it? You may find some surprising answers in our Mini biography.
The Basics
Among the many classic car designs to have been produced in England in the 20th century, the Mini was perhaps the most unlikely success. A car so small it had to have its engine inserted sideways, it was initially conceived as a way of saving on fuel following the Suez Crisis in the 1950s.
The Story of the Mini
First unveiled on August 26, 1959, the Mini car, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, was intended only to be a modest addition to the British car industry’s repertoire. Styled as a little runaround for the car-owner without pretensions, the Mini very soon outgrew its humble beginnings to become one of the most affectionately regarded cars ever designed in England. Much modified over the decades, it is still going strong in a new incarnation today, having passed effortlessly along the style spectrum from functional to ironic to drop-dead cool.
