VIDEO: Mini at 50 is Rebel Without Pause
Click above to watch the video after the jump
While it's certainly fair to pick nits and say that Mini's revival under BMW has resulted in a markedly different product than Sir Alec Issigonis' original machine, it's also fair to say that the world has once again embraced the friendly-faced little guy with open arms like few other automobiles before or since. As it was in the beginning, the Mini is a bona-fide cultural phenomenon, effortlessly transcending social and economic classifications to become the darling of auto enthusiasts and trend setters everywhere. Critically, as before, it's a also great steer – a nimble, tossable car capable of running rings around bigger, more powerful machinery on-track and off.
Consider it fitting, then, that Issigonis' big little achievement celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new, nicely done short film called Rebel Without Pause. The video features both contemporary and classic Minis in both modern and archival footage, and conveniently, it's available after the jump.
[Source: Mini]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mike Satterfield 3:37PM (6/15/2009)
I drive my 69 Austin Mini everyday and it is the only car I have every owned that I never get board of.
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Sam 3:47PM (6/15/2009)
And love my 1989 Mayfair.
brianjens 10:41PM (6/15/2009)
I have 2 classic minis- One for the track with a 1.8 Acura Integra motor in it, and one for the street with a supercharged A series 1275. They always put a smile on my face. And nothing draws more attention in the US than a classic mini. I once had mine at a track event, and the Make a Wish Foundation had a couple dozen kids there to ride in the cars around the track after lunch. There were Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches. Guess who had the longest line of kids waiting for a ride? Me.
J Smith 11:54PM (6/15/2009)
I have a 1962 Morris Cooper 997, with the original engine, that I am restoring. Fortunately, it was in good condition when I bought it, so it doesn't need much. Put in a new interior last summer.
I love this thing--sublime handling, ingenious packaging and design. Scoots along on the highway quite nicely. Certainly the Car of the 29th Century--most of the cars produced today are based on the FWD, transverse engine layout.
ImSteevin 1:54PM (6/16/2009)
I daily drive my Z-Cars kit K20A converted mini, it's not always the easiest, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
letstakeawalk 3:39PM (6/15/2009)
When I click on the vid, I get sent to some carpix site...
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Eric Bandholz 3:42PM (6/15/2009)
As do I. Kinda frustrating. I suppose the author inadvertently linked the video.
Eric Bandholz 3:43PM (6/15/2009)
Here is the link to the webpage: http://carpix.fliggo.com/video/IYLDJN3h
It worked for me when I didn't click the play icon.
dwaltr 3:44PM (6/15/2009)
It's sooooooo cute!
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Ian 4:17PM (6/15/2009)
As a support race to a GP race at Brands Hatch all the GP drivers were entered in a Mini race. The cars drove to the grid to await the start, Graham Hill jumped out and ran down the grid talking to each driver. The flag dropped and the race started with EVERY driver full bore in reverse. It was hilarious.
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Kitko 4:51PM (6/15/2009)
Let's face, original Mini was a gem. But the ONLY reason it became an icon is that British automotive industry was not able to produce a better car since then.
Mini is a reluctant icon and it's great irony that German BMW had to revive the brand. Only to produce a car that is on par with a diesel Skoda Fabia. Mini Cooper is slower on track than an old diesel Fabia vRS.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-clip-Skoda-Fabia_84232.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNMVzyl-cC4
To sum up - Old Mini is nostalgia on wheels, poor by any modern standard. New Mini is a fashion statement, an over-priced average car built on a heritage that ceased to be relevant 40 years ago.
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Sam 5:27PM (6/15/2009)
What a load of tripe.
"poor by any modern standard"
Guess what, so is a Ford Model T.
J Smith 12:04AM (6/16/2009)
ANY 50 year-old car is poor by modern standards. The Mini, however, ushered in a revolution in car design and was a good decade ahead of everything else. And it was phenomenal in its day--three Monte Carlo wins, in addition to shelves of other racing trophies. It oozed charisma--all four Beatles owned one, royalty (Princess Margaret & Lord Snowden)--in a way that no other economy car before or since has.
IOMTT 9:57AM (6/16/2009)
@ J Smith, don't get me wrong, I love original Minis, but I think you forgot about the VW Beetle when you came to your conclusion.
BMWdownshift 5:01PM (6/15/2009)
To kitko :
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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Reimer 7:00PM (6/15/2009)
Now they should make a kei-class mini,that would be cool.
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Ralph 11:56PM (6/15/2009)
Mini's rock! I've owned my 1961 Mini for 8 years now. In between, I've bought and sold a number of fun and fast cars that were quite enjoyable to own and drive. But nothing quite matches it's point and shoot nature or it's visceral 'you and the car as one', driving experience. I'll never sell that thing!
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e208/TheSecretChimp/moala04.jpg
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Avinash machado 12:38AM (6/16/2009)
John Cooper deserves a lot of credit for the Mini's popularity.
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Tom Winch 1:01AM (6/16/2009)
No retrospective of the Mini's 50 years is complete without the Rocket Mini from the Top Gear Winter Olympics, which I just watched for at least the 6th time on BBC America.
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Joan of Arc 6:07AM (6/16/2009)
MINIs are poor by modern standards? If you think so....
MINIs are fantastic cars, and the performance is adequate for its low $20,000 price range (for the S model). I'm surprised a lot of you supposed "car enthusiasts" cannot accept a great car when you see one. Just because a ZR1 Crate Engine is absent under the hood, doesn't mean it is a horrible car. I can see a nice MINI, just like I can appreciate a nice, original Mustang, Camaro.... heck, even a decent Pathfinder or whatnot.
I don't know... I just wish people could appreciate cars for what they are, instead of letting their testosterone get in the way. I could go on and rant about seeing dozens of Mustangs on my short trip across town, and how they all look the same... but that doesn't make them any less of great cars.
Flame a car much more deserving of your hatred... fire away on an Aveo!
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