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.
Over time the original Austin Mini had several name, branding and even factory changes. Originally it proudly bore the names Austin and Morris when it made its debut in the market during 1959. However several name alterations were conducted over years, model and ownership and factory amalgamation changes. During 1969, Austin and Morris name was altered and became the Mini alone - as opposed to the two word terms "Austin Mini" and "Morris Mini". And in 1980, there was once again an alteration and turned out to be Austin. An extended selection of model was developed and created a station wagon or what might be called a van version. Yet during this time period all of these models were named Austin mini. In the long run, the name Austin was dropped and in full favor of the brand name Mini alone it was during the year 2000 that the last mini was built as a fully British product.
In addition the initial minis seem to have built for Britain only with its temperate climate. Passengers froze with inadequate heat and defrost in the winter, and were on the hot side in an American summer. Yet it might be said that luxury high end Jaguars were no better in this regard. Yet to an owner or driver in Northern Alberta or British Columbia these problems endemic to British export vehicles were of little avail. Secondly the British seemed to have missed the boat on dealer support especially easy and rapid parts access. Volkswagen seemed to have done much better in this regard, helped on with great standardization across the various model years and parts of VW Beetles.
Austin mini is definitely a beauty, not only because of its facade but also its function. This is very sensible and dependable to make use of. I would definitely agree that there is no car that can compete with this car's qualifications and achievements.
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.
Over time the original Austin Mini had several name, branding and even factory changes. Originally it proudly bore the names Austin and Morris when it made its debut in the market during 1959. However several name alterations were conducted over years, model and ownership and factory amalgamation changes. During 1969, Austin and Morris name was altered and became the Mini alone - as opposed to the two word terms "Austin Mini" and "Morris Mini". And in 1980, there was once again an alteration and turned out to be Austin. An extended selection of model was developed and created a station wagon or what might be called a van version. Yet during this time period all of these models were named Austin mini. In the long run, the name Austin was dropped and in full favor of the brand name Mini alone it was during the year 2000 that the last mini was built as a fully British product.
In addition the initial minis seem to have built for Britain only with its temperate climate. Passengers froze with inadequate heat and defrost in the winter, and were on the hot side in an American summer. Yet it might be said that luxury high end Jaguars were no better in this regard. Yet to an owner or driver in Northern Alberta or British Columbia these problems endemic to British export vehicles were of little avail. Secondly the British seemed to have missed the boat on dealer support especially easy and rapid parts access. Volkswagen seemed to have done much better in this regard, helped on with great standardization across the various model years and parts of VW Beetles.
Austin mini is definitely a beauty, not only because of its facade but also its function. This is very sensible and dependable to make use of. I would definitely agree that there is no car that can compete with this car's qualifications and achievements.
About the Author:
In 1969, under the ownership of British Leyland, the Mini was given a facelift by stylist Roy Haynes, who had previously worked for Ford Motor Company of Canada. Not to be confused with the later water cooled BMW Clubmans, and has a squarer frontal look, using the same indicator/sidelight assembly as the Austin Maxi.
No comments:
Post a Comment