The Car That Saved the Mini

I remember those years when the Mini went trendy again, and benefitted from the mechanical upgrades that kept it going until regulations put an end to production. Great cars!

Excellent video. The survival of the Mini during the period 1980 to 1989 is a fascinating piece of automotive history and crucial to the birth of the modern MINI.

After the fashion wore off the Mini had to move back into the 'value' car, unfortunately as you mention that meant it had to be stripped back to basics as it was labour intensive and hence costly to build. Weirdly it became the class of almost one once the 'supermini' class erupted. But in that smaller market it still sold. I had 2 Minis, a very tired 1000 that was well past its best before date and a later Clubman Estate 1100 that was brilliant but even my tired old 1000 was enough to give me the Mini driving bug and that was its trick. On paper it no longer made sense for the cost but once driven with just a modicum of spirit it was enough to ignite something hidden in the driver that they would never forget. The car was less transport but fun to drive. For me the best Mini was the classic Mini. Many thanks for sharing and bringing back so many fond memories.

I remember when Graham Day became Sir Graham Day, the headline simply said "Day becomes Knight"!

I’m a Mini 30 owner. It gets a lot of attention and lots of smiles. It’s not the most comfortable to drive as I’m 6 foot tall BUT it’s great fun to drive. It has its own character and is one of the family.

I was so pleased that this video popped onto my lap top as I switched one today. Yout regularity has been really missed, both in such reviews. Metro rebuilds and brochure reviews, So I hope your problems are ended and we can look forward to regularity because you are the best in all respects. That's not a bit of faltery from some sort of old groupie, but as a previous reviewer myself and competition driver I appreciate your professional and thorough research, superber scrip writing and professional presentation/editing, a well as you obvious driving joy and fun, There have been been many who have tried to fill your shoes but not come even near. So with good wishes for tour continued efforts and the former joy of knowing that on certain days, an expert Ed would pop on to my old screen and delight my equally old body and mind with pleasurable motoring items! Thank you., and I wish😊🙂 you well and continued success! Rob

I still have 3 restored mini's in the garage. 21000cc's and one van 850. Blast to drive 🎉

I owned three 1980,s minis in succession in the late eighties and early nineties. I felt so cool driving them, loved the styling and the handling of them was brilliant and so much fun. My favourite was my flame red Mini City.

I dream of having one and have it in my living room like a precious piece of furniture and love cherish it forever

I remember when these were new Ed, My aunt worked in car sales and she would always buy the special edition ones and she had a 30 in black. I am amazed you don't own a mini yet Ed, you need get one 😊

Yes, best car ever made. I bought my first car when I was 17, a 1966 Australian built Morris Mini Deluxe. And I still own it. What a great car. I did convert it to rubber suspension after suffering from years of hydrolastic suspension issues. I still like hydrolastic suspension as I also have an MG 1100. Another amazing car built by BMC. I still can’t believe it all fell apart. They built some of the best cars in the world.

The Mini is the Terrier of the car world! I love Terriers. I learned to drive in a Mini Clubman Estate [suffix L reg] and the first car I drove regularly was a blue M reg Mini Pick-up. The pick-up was probably the best handling Mini, and with its 1000 cc engine and the short gearing of the 850 [as a commercial it was in those subject to an unenforced 40 mph speed limit!] meant it really was very quick on winding narrow roads. Not fast flat out, but responsive like a good road bike. My mother had two Mini saloons, a green F reg and a mauve M reg, which both went to Norway with my mother, my brother and I to stay with my Norwegian grandparents in the late sixties and early seventies. Halcyon days for sure. Best wishes from George

My first two cars when I got my driver's licence in the mid seventies in Australia were a blue 1965 Mini with a white roof and wind up windows (luxury!), and a beige 1963 Mini with sliding windows. They both cost $425 AUD, and the 1963 model replaced the 1965 one that was written off when someone rear-ended it. The insurance payout bought the 1963 Mini. There were fun times including many breakdowns due to wet electricals during thunderstorms, a complete brake failure going downhill when collecting my youngest brother from school, and one of them rolled down the backyard of my parent's house into a tree when the handbrake failed to hold. The doors were still locked and my youngest brother and sister were up in the back bedroom of the house, looking out of the window and laughing as I chased the little car down the hill! None of those things were funny at the time, but driving a Mini was always an adventure.

Another great history lesson. Thanks Ed.

What a beautiful car... Thank you for sharing another great presentation... Roger... Pembrokeshire

I remember when the Mini 30 was launched (I was 11 years old). It was reviewed in the August 1989 issue of What Car? magazine, pitted against 9 other superminis. I thought that the 30 was an excellent bit of packaging and spurred on many other limited edition Minis during the 1990s such as the Equinox and Neon. I myself had a well used 1990 Racing Green 1.0 in 2001 - 2002 which was based on the City.

Lovely, great video and how you put everything was put into perspective on why the Mini kept going. These special editions certainly added more appeal to a remarkable car.

Im certain the spiritual successor to the original mini is the Daihatsu Cuore/Perodua Kelisa. The same feedback from the steering, the knowledge if you press on, it will let you know when it's had enough. Likewise the visibility is superb and always makes me grin when i get in. My first car was a 1960 mini, and my '04 plate Prodder was £200 well spent to enjoy a similar ride without the financial grief.

In the early '90s I owned a Park Lane Mini and drove a Metro van at work. The Metro, with it's vague steering and wallowy ride was like driving a blancmange compared to the Mini. The Mini wouldn't start after heavy rain, you could open the locks with any key small enough to fit in the slot and it had to have rot patched up countless times, but you put up with the flaws because it was so enjoyable to drive.

You're absolutely right. I remember well the launch of the Mini 30 In France and i thought : oh, they will carry on building Minis and they will look classic.