31st Dec 2009
A Vintage Auto Classic Reborn – The Austin Mini Vehicle
Think of the \”Mod 1960\’s\” – Carnaby Street , Apple Records with the Beatles et al and most likely you will picture that cute little , or almost ugly \”Austin Mini\” motor-car vehicle. No doubt about it – the marvelous Mini set the stage for the worldwide acceptance of small front wheel drive , transversely laid out engines front wheel drive automotive car engine designs that we take for granted on our roads and highways today.
Yet the tiny and almost puny Austin Mini with its small in relation 4 banger engine won the famed Monte Carlo Rally three times running – in the years races of 1964, 1965 and lastly in 1967. Quite a feat for such a diminutive and scaled down automotive product of its time. On top of that the fourth victory was snatched from the mouth\’s of the Austin clan only by a small infraction on the roadway.
Yet to its credit the mini was not only sort of cute – some called it ugly – but advanced simple standards of driver comforts yet to come in the future – for example map storage areas on the drivers and passenger doors – obstensively for maps but deep enough to be used for carrying home even small grocery items. The first minis rolled off the assembly line in Britain on May 8 , 1959 and showed up on streets and highways shortly after during August 1959. It was even priced in British terms at less than $ 540 British Pounds Sterling – the American dollar equivalent being less than $ 1000.
The Austin Mini – as the product eventually came to be known as – entered full and single factory product name and one single solitary car \”badge\”, at the end of the 1960\’s decade. Now it was the Austin \”Mini\” and nothing but. Yet the Mini has had not one form – unlike the Ford Model T – that came in any color you wanted as long as it was black. The mini itself has come in many differing and varied forms – from the standard 2 door Saloon , to \”Club\” station wagons. Many of the cars were painted with one color for the body, and then a white roof. Owner\’s of the vehicles , ever loyal , formed clubs and gave gentle honks of recognition to each other while driving on the roads and highways.
Yet the Mini suffered a host of problems – especially in the \”export market\”. These were problems, errors and mistakes that the Japanese auto industry , could later use to good lesson , when it came time for them to enter the American auto market – ultimately very successfully. One was that the auto seemed to be designed for the British market, geography, driving conditions and climate. True the Mini was fun to drive , could pack in passengers , luggage and groceries in a small space. Yet it was underpowered when it came to the growing American highway system and daily commutes. In addition the cooling system seemed to be developed for more temperate climes. Austin car owners and their passengers often sweltered in a hot American summer , while freezing with an inadequate heating system come cold Canadian winters. The car seemed to have devised and developed for British temperate climate and small scale higher speeds. In addition parts availability for repairs , as well as trained mechanics, other than at higher priced British car dealerships seem to scare away more than one potential auto customer – or one looking to finance their new or used vehicle.
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 Fill Out a Confidential Online Credit Application Today
Think of the \”Mod 1960\’s\” – Carnaby Street , Apple Records with the Beatles et al and most likely you will picture that cute little , or almost ugly \”Austin Mini\” motor-car vehicle. No doubt about it – the marvelous Mini set the stage for the worldwide acceptance of small front wheel drive , transversely laid out engines front wheel drive automotive car engine designs that we take for granted on our roads and highways today.
Yet the tiny and almost puny Austin Mini with its small in relation 4 banger engine won the famed Monte Carlo Rally three times running – in the years races of 1964, 1965 and lastly in 1967. Quite a feat for such a diminutive and scaled down automotive product of its time. On top of that the fourth victory was snatched from the mouth\’s of the Austin clan only by a small infraction on the roadway.
Yet to its credit the mini was not only sort of cute – some called it ugly – but advanced simple standards of driver comforts yet to come in the future – for example map storage areas on the drivers and passenger doors – obstensively for maps but deep enough to be used for carrying home even small grocery items. The first minis rolled off the assembly line in Britain on May 8 , 1959 and showed up on streets and highways shortly after during August 1959. It was even priced in British terms at less than $ 540 British Pounds Sterling – the American dollar equivalent being less than $ 1000.
The Austin Mini – as the product eventually came to be known as – entered full and single factory product name and one single solitary car \”badge\”, at the end of the 1960\’s decade. Now it was the Austin \”Mini\” and nothing but. Yet the Mini has had not one form – unlike the Ford Model T – that came in any color you wanted as long as it was black. The mini itself has come in many differing and varied forms – from the standard 2 door Saloon , to \”Club\” station wagons. Many of the cars were painted with one color for the body, and then a white roof. Owner\’s of the vehicles , ever loyal , formed clubs and gave gentle honks of recognition to each other while driving on the roads and highways.
Yet the Mini suffered a host of problems – especially in the \”export market\”. These were problems, errors and mistakes that the Japanese auto industry , could later use to good lesson , when it came time for them to enter the American auto market – ultimately very successfully. One was that the auto seemed to be designed for the British market, geography, driving conditions and climate. True the Mini was fun to drive , could pack in passengers , luggage and groceries in a small space. Yet it was underpowered when it came to the growing American highway system and daily commutes. In addition the cooling system seemed to be developed for more temperate climes. Austin car owners and their passengers often sweltered in a hot American summer , while freezing with an inadequate heating system come cold Canadian winters. The car seemed to have devised and developed for British temperate climate and small scale higher speeds. In addition parts availability for repairs , as well as trained mechanics, other than at higher priced British car dealerships seem to scare away more than one potential auto customer – or one looking to finance their new or used vehicle.
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 Fill Out a Confidential Online Credit Application Today
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