14 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

Interesting new write up on the 'Austin Memories' website about the original plans for the new MINI production at the Longbridge factory:


First R50 MINI Body Built in 1999 by Rover workers at Longbridge.


Early R50 Built at Longbridge (Methods Build 1999)

New MINI comes to Longbridge.
That was the Plan, although in the end it never happened........

The general BMW plan for the Rover Group was that Cowley, renamed Oxford would produce the large cars, with Longbridge, becoming Birmingham which would produce the small and medium.

Rover Birmingham (Longbridge) needed to undergo major restructuring to prepare for the launch of R50 (new Mini) in the year 2000. In order to create a world class manufacturing facility for the production of the new Mini, Rover needed to replace existing old buildings with new factories, designed to accommodate modern machinery and equipment.

More details of the original plans here:

http://www.austinmem...d-30/index.html

 

 

John Cooper unveils the new MINI Cooper

Edited by mab01uk, 12 January 2021 - 01:09 PM.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Weird seeing these pics in black and white, makes them seem alot older and I still think of the Bini's as new cars

The original Bini does tempt me, but I'd probably prefer the later S John Cooper Works or GP

[RayBoogs]

Yeah I still think the MINI is still like brand new, but its over 10 years old now!!

I think if I had to have a new modern hatch/car I'd get a MINI, lots of modding potential.

[bcjames]

I quite like the overall look of the early MINIs

The new ones are very sleek looking, but the older ones now remind me of their Mini origins more so.

[RayBoogs]

Is it bad to say I agree. I swear as soon as a car gets to like 10-15 years old I start to like it, never used to like mk1 mx5's or mk3 golfs but I do now, anyone else? or maybe I'm just weird, thats the more likely scenario.

Edited by RayBoogs, 01 February 2012 - 08:48 PM.

[joshspragg]

Is it bad to say I agree. I swear as soon as a car gets to like 10-15 years old I start to like it, never used to like mk1 mx5's or mk3 golfs but I do now, anyone else? or maybe I'm just weird, thats the more likely scenario.

same, takes me a while to warm to a car.

[mingy]

I bought my wife a 1.6 mini cooper (under sufference at first) a couple of months ago and she loves it. I must say i was pleasantly surprised when i drove it for the first time.It handles really well and BMW have been very clever in keeping that mini feel regarding the positive feel when driving it.
I know us stick in the muds pooh poohed it at first but if you get a chance to have a drive in one then i would advise you to do just that, i bet you like it.
And as you rightly say, the modifications and accessories you can get is enormous.
GIVE ONE A GO.

[RayBoogs]

Is it bad to say I agree. I swear as soon as a car gets to like 10-15 years old I start to like it, never used to like mk1 mx5's or mk3 golfs but I do now, anyone else? or maybe I'm just weird, thats the more likely scenario.

same, takes me a while to warm to a car.

Good I'm not the only one I knew it!

[mab01uk]

Interesting discovery came to light last week on the MINI forums.....an R50/53 Rover MINI Prototype.

I have a Strange / 1 off Mini
Hi, all
Aquired this Mini shell today. It was a pre production Mini made by Rover. The glass has Rover on it. The headlights are very different. As far as I know this was a test car and was then stripped and sent to a company to test the door seals. It had a machine attached to the door which opened and closed it.
I have a Strange / 1 off Mini - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums

[mab01uk]

More pictures of what could be the oldest and only pre-production prototype Rover R50/53 MINI left in existence as recently discovered, since being dry-stored in 1999, unless of course you know different......spot the differences?

 

Note the shape of the side vent holes in the A panels with seperate round repeater holes, different headlights and added R53 bonnet bulge which all match the Rover Longbridge MINI prototype photos earlier in this thread.
Also has an early pre-production version of R53 Cooper S fuel cap.

 

Alan who also found a rare 'Innocenti De Tomaso' Mini this week (see Gen Chat) has listed the MINI on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4acca3fc67

Edited by mab01uk, 26 November 2013 - 11:08 PM.

[mab01uk]

[gkmini]

The second picture in the first post looks right out of 59!

[jaydee]

Just spotted this on ebay!!

[mab01uk]

Interesting reply on the Mk1 Forum:-

http://mk1-forum.net...&p=62260#p62260

 

I was working at longbridge in 1997/8 and was asked if I wanted to look at one of the new minis in 'methods' building, It was very interesting and the spec list read from something out of a bmw 7 series options list!

you have to remember that the New MINI was a risk and a lot of people thought they'd never sell a 12k mini to anyone! 200,000 a year proved that wrong but at the time...

I seem to remember that early cars had the indicator repeater green light in the stalk , now where have I seen that before?

it quickly got deleted (shame) and just the alarm was on the other stalk , I think,

anyhow we built the first R53 s with battery in the boot etc and with hand mod'd bonnet as per photo above and by the following Wednesday there was a picture in Autocar !

there was also an R3 Rover 200 with 'S' running gear which used to fly around

what are your plans with it , I cant imagine there are any others and process is to scrap em , maybe they forgot about this one!

 

 

John Cooper pictured in August 1998 inside the secure viewing garden in the Rover Gaydon Design Centre with one of the first MINI Cooper prototypes to be completed.
Note the snap-action fuel filler cap - which would not be adopted on the production R50 MINI Cooper. Rover design was always unhappy about that deletion.......however a different but similar style fuel cap did appear later on the R53 MINI Cooper S launched in 2002.



The early Rover style snap-action fuel cap fitted on the recently discovered MINI prototype......

 

Unique BMW MINI Prototype Found On Ebay Proves Rover Origins http://jalopnik.com/...r-or-1474761064

 

Edited by mab01uk, 02 December 2013 - 11:49 PM.

[craig 1010cc]

I remember going to a planning meeting at longbridge when they were going to build it there. The plan was to rip out the 'classic' mini line and install teh new line there.

 

The issue with this shell is that it will have been built for the revised K series engine that was originaly planned for it and not the Neon engine they went with after the split and they also revised the rear suspension quite a bit.