19 replies to this topic

[CCX]

Does anyone have a clue where these came from?

 

[CCX]

The Mini 40 magazine that I bought from eBay arrived today, complete with CD. Well worth the £5 it cost me, and includes some nice footage of the MPi cars. The quality is not great because the videos are very low resolution, but that's nothing that can't be improved on. Once I've worked on improving the quality, I'll try and remember to upload them to YouTube. 

 

Still trying to work out where the above videos came from though. I've emailed BMIHT so hopefully they may know more about them. 

[mab01uk]

I think those videos were all part of the marketing package by Rover under BMW's direction for moving the classic Mini upmarket.........whereas Rover had planned to let the Mini die in 1996 BMW wanted to keep it going until the launch of the New MINI in 2001 and at the same time move the Mini brand upmarket with lots of customer options to choose from.....in preparation for the R50 New MINI to follow on in the same 'premium' small car market sector.

 

RADICAL CHANGE OF DIRECTION FOR MINI

"Announced on the 1st of October 1996, the most radical package of improvements in its history brought a new direction for one of the world's best-loved cars - the Mini.  Making its debut at the Paris Motor Show, the latest Mini range sees greater emphasis than ever on its unique personality, enhancing its status as something far more than another small car."

 

Mini buyers and established owners alike spend considerable sums on options and accessories. As a means of fashionable self expression, Mini is unsurpassed - rarely are two exactly the same. The 1997 Mini programme allows the customer to choose a wide range of unique colours, trims, options and accessories enabling the car to truly reflect the owner's personality. Factory fit options include a Sports Pack featuring stunning 13" x 6J alloy wheels, with body coloured wheel arch spats and Koni shock absorbers, along with additional instrumentation, lamps and a big-bore chrome exhaust finisher. Leather trim, finished in a style reminiscent of much more expensive cars, is available in a range of colours including a red leather 'classic' style evocative of the 1960s. Several 'original' body colours are available including Almond Green and Surf Blue. A 10-piece wood kit, 'turned alloy' facia and electric canvas sun-roof complete the factory fit option line-up.

The most extensive customisation opportunity comes from the immense range of accessories now available to Mini owners old and new. Every conceivable area is covered from road wheels to exterior chrome details, interior leather and alloy finished items, wood door cappings and even a polished engine rocker cover. Dramatic effects are available through a range of decal kits including the "Union Jack" and "Chequered" roofs, a 'zipper' full length side decal and a range of additional badges.

Mini is priced at £9325 and Mini Cooper is priced at £9625 (although you should expect a generous discount) and both are powered by the 63PS A-Series engine. Alloy wheels are standard on both derivatives with a new 'luxury' design featuring on the Mini. A wood facia with additional instrumentation applies to both models and the Mini Cooper retains its white roof, bonnet stripes and spoked alloy wheel design.

WHO BUYS A MINI?

Throughout the 1990s, Mini has been moving steadily upmarket. In the key export markets of Europe and Japan, Mini has long been perceived as a desirable status symbol, bought for its heritage and unique, ageless style. The 1997 programme moves the UK versions of the car in this same direction, as there are no longer any 'entry-level' models such as the previous Sprite or low price Special Editions.

Typical Mini buyers are now less likely to be families seeking a second or third car, but increasingly tend to be single, well-educated professional and managerial people desiring a fashion statement.

The 1997 Mini sees an important step-change in the development and projection of the Mini brand by reverting to a classically simple and straightforward range that emphasises the strength of the brand, taking it firmly upmarket.

Read the offical launch documents from Rover at the time of the re-launch (september 1996)

 

http://www.roblightb...97/official.htm

 

Extracts from the 1996 Brochure launching the 1997 model year Minis

http://www.roblightb...e/extracts1.htm

Edited by mab01uk, 31 December 2013 - 08:02 PM.

[CCX]

I think those videos were all part of the marketing package by Rover under BMW's direction for moving the classic Mini upmarket.........whereas Rover had planned to let the Mini die in 1996 BMW wanted to keep it going until the launch of the New MINI in 2001 and at the same time move the Mini brand upmarket with lots of customer options to choose from.....in preparation for the R50 New MINI to follow on in the same 'premium' small car market sector.

Agreed. I think it's possible they could have been shown to prospective customers in dealers, to try and push them into spending thousands on accessories. I've contacted the uploader, but since he uploaded them years ago he probably won't reply. Still worth a try. 

[CCX]

I've uploaded the videos, so if you don't have the CD and can't be bothered to buy one click here. 

 

The quality isn't great, partly because I've only just uploaded them (quality should improve a little bit), and partly because that's how bad they were originally. No amount of tweaking with software can change the fact that they're low resolution (that I know of).