28 replies to this topic

[DeadSquare]

Is it the rubber doughnut suspension, or the gearbox in the sump ?

[whistler]

Both I think plus transverse engine.

[stuart bowes]

why does it have to be one thing?   both were probably used before then (transverse for sure) but the whole package in a monocoque, with the external seams for easy construction, and a number of other things, all in one design is what makes it revolutionary as a whole concept 

 

it's like saying whats the most beneficial thing for a deer, good hearing or the fact it can run fast

Edited by stuart bowes, 01 May 2024 - 01:48 PM.

[Ethel]

If it has to be one thing then it's the concept of minimalization for economy, both in terms of  fuel & manufacturing.

 

The greatest legacy - CV joints. They're to FWD what feathers are to the evolution of birds.

 

 

 

 

For popularity - rust.

 

I'm serious(ish): if they weren't so good at it, there wouldn't have been the means created to keep patching 'em  creating their own support economy . The external seams & subbies play a fair part in that too

[Homersimpson]

It brought motoring to the masses with a vehicle that you could get the whole family in and be warm and dry, before this most people had a motorcycle/scooter and then as the family expanded a sidecar.

 

Next came the bubble cars but they couldn't fit many people and so the mini as a proper car was a revolution, especially at the price point it was launched at.

[Cooperman]

I was a young engineering apprentice in the aircraft industry when the Mini was announced.

It amazed all we trainee engineers and we discussed the technical details at length.

The whole thing was revolutionary and when one of my fellow apprentices was given one by his father and I had a ride in it, the way it went round corners seemed fantastic. And that was on cross-ply tyres!

I really wanted one, but couldn't afford one until 1963, my first car being a 1950 Ford V8 Pilot (3.6 litre flat-head V8).

[mab01uk]

It was so revolutionary compared to existing cars that my dad bought my mum a brand new Ford Anglia instead when she passed her driving test. This was despite my brothers and I pleas to get her a Mini but my dad said he wanted a conventional car with rear wheel drive/ separate gearbox/ back axle/ metal springs that was easy to work on. The Mini was a bit too unconventional for many car buyers at the time plus many drivers still did their own service/repairs and so it was a couple of years before Mini sales really started to take off, not helped either by the early reports of wet carpets, leaks, weak gearbox, wet distributors in heavy rain and questions over whether the engine/gearbox had to be removed to replace the clutch....

[stuart bowes]

to be fair I wouldn't say no to an Anglia either now though, still cool just in different ways

[Designer]

Or 1950 Ford V8 Pilot (3.6 litre flat-head V8).

[roblightbody]

fully independent suspension in a small, very cheap car, was remarkable. combined with rack & pinion steering, front wheel drive and then the space inside, it was all really remarkable and hi-tec for the time, especially for its price.

[Steam]

The ability to have the ingredients for a perfect martini close to hand for the driver, plus an ashtray for every passenger. The one oversight was no cigarette lighter.
But then you could always fit one of these

https://www.classica...nt-see-any-more

Enjoy.

[sledgehammer]

What Was "the" Revolutionary 'thing' About The Mini ???

 

Most of the 1959 to 70's advertising , seemed to be about the external size , compared with the internal size

and passenger room as well as luggage & later fuel economy

 

For me - the transverse engine & box in one compact unit

the engine / gearbox should have been updated every 10 years IMHO

could have been 3cyl & OHC which was tested at various stages but never went into production

 

The thing I get annoyed with , is the 'Alec Issigonis invented the mini' -

 

Issigonis got most credit for it , He drew the outline - but Jack Daniels filled it in

 

J D once remarked wryly, that his was the

 

"90 per cent perspiration behind the 10 per cent inspiration"   of his boss.

He often stopped Issigonis's silly idea's , and swapped things around so the mini would work

 

the early front floor pan to toe board error was Issigonis being stubborn

 

without a person like Jack Daniels there would be no mini

Edited by sledgehammer, 02 May 2024 - 09:35 AM.

[Ethel]

The ability to have the ingredients for a perfect martini close to hand for the driver, plus an ashtray for every passenger. The one oversight was no cigarette lighter.
But then you could always fit one of these

https://www.classica...nt-see-any-more

Enjoy.

 

 

Fag lighter's an unnecessary expense for a car full of chain smokers.

[stuart bowes]

could it not also be said that without 'ideas men' like Issigonis, Jack daniels would probably be sitting there designing "3 box" cars forever?

 

I've never heard of him which probably just reinforces what you're saying really, if you google 'jack daniels mini' all you get is small drinks bottles (although he does have a small wiki page linked from the main mini page)

 

It's a shame when it happens..  there's probably endless examples of the same throughout history .. Edison / Tesla ... Turing / Babbage .. Bell / Marconi... numerous women who worked out scientific principles for some man to come along and take the glory.. etc

Edited by stuart bowes, 02 May 2024 - 10:31 AM.

[Ethel]

I was going to scribble a reply to Stuart about  how serendipitous the Mini was - Did you know the Moulton  family was in rubber from the 1850s.

 

Then I found this, which has to be more interesting: