Here’s how the Mini became one of the most recognizable cars in the world

[@Sd1v8v]

I ran a Mk5 1990 mini racing green until 2019 and it was one of the best fun cars I've owned as well people were happy to see it.

[@mattw8332]

I owned a 1990 Racing Green as well!

[@someonebald2022]

I had a white 1973 Mini 1000. As much fun as you can have within the speed limit! 😁

[@BuzzLOLOL]

In 1966 my buddy showed me he had a dilapidated Mini is his back yard... I assumed it was 20 or 30 years old... but recently saw they started in 1959, so it couldn't have been... Noticed the front leaf suspension spring held the front wheel on... and springs break, especially British springs, so I didn't like that... early Ford Escorts also had that 'feature'... and other bad features...

[@eviltriplet]

@@BuzzLOLOL It doesn't use leaf springs, rubber cones mostly some hydrolastic interlinked front and rear. Issigonis once viewed a car with leaf springs - his response was "Thats not a car, any fool could build that".

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@eviltriplet - The one I saw in USA had leaf front spring... like an Escort...

[@lbsvw2526]

The Classic Mini was produced also here in Italy with some improvements, from 1965 (Innocenti Mini Minor). And from 1973 in a totally restyled version: same mechanicals, all new interior and body (designed by Bertone: Innocenti Mini 90 and Mini 120).

[@gkan1042]

Also I think the innocenti had a rear full hatchback instead of the partial opening of the British mini, which was a much needed improvement I think

[@paulfinney]

Another great doc. 2 things you might not have known but when they made the first BMC minis the reason the speedo was in the middle was because they were monocoque chassis, when they produced them on the production line there was a long rod all the way down the line and it went through the dash via the speedo hole in the firewall, and then the boot hatch and meant they could paint the panels, then dry, then fit the interior and rear suspension then when it cam to the end, they would fit the front subframe, suspension and engine and gearbox as a unit, then the speedo and bootlid! Also in 1960 Ford UK were struggling to compete and bought a mini, took it apart to cost it, and found they were making a huge loss on each Mini made at the time!!

[@rushnerd]

"I vow to rid these streets of foreign bubble cars" *The 90's have entered the chat*

[@sebastiend.5335]

Always love your videos! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@monolith2001]

#20 at 6:30 in this video was possessed by a driving god. That kink/chicane at Goodwood (Gran Turismo player) is nasty even when played straight...that was some awesome driving.

[@Jim-ie6uf]

I had a friend in college at Oglethorpe U in the late 70’s, named Clarkson Smith as I recall. He had a real Mini and after an unfortunate engine issue, rebuilt the engine in his dorm room at the end of the fall semester. Needless to say the carpet and wall paint were trashed. The engine ran fine afterwards, he never came back. The room needed a complete re-do. Go figure.

[@jasongray6437]

Great video as always! So good to hear someone from the US give a perfect history on a British car.

[@OLDS98]

Very well thought out and planned video. It was interesting and informative as it focused on the car's history. I really enjoyed the effort in this video. It has a long history.

[@nicholasstocker6866]

I saw an original Mini a few days ago in Idaho Falls, ID, and I just freaked out of how rare and so adorable it was!

[@clarksonoceallachain8536]

In my town there are over 10 of them Also there are over 30 kei cars A few triumphs A ginetta And some austins Its a English town that is technologically not advanced at all either here

[@ghw7192]

In the British TV show "Butterflies", Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig) drove a Mini with a Union Jack painted on the top and I fell in love with that car. Years later, I had a friend who collected Minis and he would walk into my workplace and hand me a set of keys each time added one to his collection. Good Times!

[@rogerhinman5427]

One of those cars that makes me smile whenever i see one.

[@Jim_Curtis]

Great informative video as always. Your hard work to make these is appreciated.

[@peaceup5519]

I own a 2010 MINI Cooper Clubman S. I'm a 44yr old enthusiast. I've owned about 20 cars in my lifetime. Dodges, Fords, Chevy, Hondas, Toyota, Hondas, one Pontiac and now a MINI. A basic 2013 Dodge Avenger is my daily while my MINI serves as my "project" car. I bought the car for $2,500. So far I've got about $23,000 into it. While I've owned many cars I've only built 3 of them. A 500hp Fox Body Mustang, a 380hp '78 Pontiac Firebird and now a 320hp MINI. The MINI is the best handling, 4.3sec 0-60 car I've ever driven. However... It may be the best car I've ever driver but it is absolutely the worst car I've ever owned. The problems that I've had to solve to get my MINI to where it is now are numerous, insane and many. For $23,000 I could have an 600hp beast of a V8. I'm so scared to drive the thing for fear of it breaking and not being able to figured out how to fix it. The car is one helluva sleeper though and running up on other confident racers to troll them is fun. They never see it coming cause I have the exhaust tuned to be quiet. The only tell is the incredibly loud blow off valve and turbo hiss that ya get when you step on it. It's a real fun pain in the butt with a lot of BMW DNA and as much as I wanna get rid of it I can't. The other 2 "fast cars" I built were common. My MINI is my unicorn. I'm probably the only fast MINI in my city and I love it!

[@denisthemenace8032]

Back in the early 90's, a guy I went to school with and his dad, who was a fabricator, built their own version of a mini pickup with a custom interior and paint that changed color depending on being wet or dry. Sweet truck...and he hated it when we'd pick it up and move it to a corner impossible to drive out of.

[@commanderwolf_gaming5191]

(Edit: Subbed) I would love to have one of the older mini's, but they are either extremely high prices or been abused. How ever I did get my hands on a 2010 mini, it was a test to see if I really did want one. Well now I want a Mini Cooper S. This thing is so fun to drive. It's like a street legal go kart with comfort lol. It's really funny watching people when I go to drop off or pick my kids up from school all the huge trucks/SUVs trying to make the turn into the pick up area and I just roll up beside them. I mean even from a dead stop I can pull off faster. Funniest time was when some (person I'll leave at that) tried to roll coal me..I saw him right when his bumper got even with my rear and coal fly out I was like nah... And I was gone he couldn't even keep up, I saw him have to pull over for fuel ...haha or either not was a cop not sure 😁😋

[@bobbob-lt9zh]

Wonderful video. Thank you so much

[@mysticmelody]

I loved my rover mini even tho I only had it for a short second. But my 2005 and now my 2016 are my favorite cars I’ve ever owned. Minis are just so original.

[@RichardinNC1]

Another informative episode! A few friends have owned the new Mini and loved them. There’s always an RHD original Mini or 2 at the local Cars & Coffee. Fun looking little cars.

[@chrismayer3919]

With everyone rushing to make electric cars, it’s a wonder the Mini is considered for electrocution (so to speak) ⚡️

[@RomanJockMCO]

In Dec 1991 I flew to Berlin to visit my friend. While his dad had a W126 S-Class that I was eager to ride in he picked me up in his step-mom's Mini. As we approached the car it happened to be parked between two vans which made it look even smaller. I remember thinking "I'm glad it has a sunroof so there's a place for my head. The falling snow might be a problem though". After getting in I was surprised at how much headroom I had and being reasonably comfortable. Riding around Berlin I grew to respect it for what it was and certainly understood its appeal. It also felt like riding in a go-kart with a body. I flew back in 1996 to Weimar and by now he had been given the car. He let me drive it around and explore while he was in class. It really taught me how fun a light weight car could be. My local Mini dealer even has a red Mark 4 in the showroom and it brought back so many memories. My sister just took delivery of a new Cooper S convertible earlier this month.

[@w140chris]

Random, but I have a w140 S-Class manufactured in December 1991 🤓

[@RomanJockMCO]

@@w140chris my favorite S-Class, when they were still tanks! Which engine?

[@w140chris]

@@RomanJockMCO mine has m119 5.0L v8 👍

[@RomanJockMCO]

@@w140chris Sweet ride. When I was in college I used to go down to the Benz dealer and just sit in and listen to the Bose sound system. I learned that if you opened the door you could operate the stereo. Enya Book of Days and Caribbean Blue sounded awesome.

[@ApeGorrillo]

I most certainly would like to see the Dodge Dakota featured in a future episode. Thank you.

[@neilmustow368]

A big childhood favourite the original Mini growing up in the UK my Dad owned 3 Mk 1 Mini's in the 1960's when he was in his 20's

[@jrussellcase]

Rowan Atkinson gets a ton of credit for bringing this car to "top of mind". Not only for driving one in his show, but for always bumping that ugly blue Reliant Regal out of parking spots, off the road, etc. 😎

[@supermcbrian]

love your content man. would love to see a gto/firebird/trans am video, just bought a 99 ws6 trans am and want to know more.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

6:30 Let's all take a moment to appreciate such an awesome drift by #20.

[@aviestrela]

Great vídeo! As a fellow Americans living in Portugal vi own a 1972 mini. I'm surprised that you didn't mention that the original mini was sold in the some years as an Austin mini.

[@mattw8332]

My first car was an orangey red 1979 Mini 1000 mark 4 (mid 1990s). It was a very ropey example. Between 2001 and 2002 I owned a 1990 “Racing Green" limited edition, which looked like a Cooper in appearance. It had the 1000 cc engine rather than the Cooper's more interesting 1275cc unit. It wasn't until this one that appreciated how fun the Mini was to drive. I could go round bends and still accelerate at the same time. 😁 However, the driving position was very cramped and I had to angle my right foot at an awkward angle to press the accelerator pedal due to the wheel arch intrusion (right hand drive car).

[@davidp2888]

Always loved these cars.

[@joshuathompson2131]

When I was stationed in the UK I had a 1275GT clubman with the 1275cc motor and 12 inch wheels. Such a fun car to drive, too bad rust is such a problem for them over there.

[@HollywoodHornet]

Mini's are pretty cool. Saw a legit Mini at a car show over the weekend. Saw some cool Beetles too. I didn't see any Tiburon's tho. You should do a video on the Hyundai Tiburon due to their modern scarcity.

[@eviltriplet]

Great video, like to see that you are doing cars from outside North America too!

[@ethelmini]

Great effort. You got the importance of the rubber suspension right, though you didn't really touch on hydrolastic, which was what was originally intended for all of 'em. The A Series engine and the transmission came from Austin models and Rover had done a lot of work on the new MINI before BMW were involved. BMW were responsible for engineering the proper Mini's last incarnation to get it through regulations for a few more years.

[@Kevin15673]

I think you should make a video on the original Subaru Justy, 4wd, 1800lbs, 1.2L 3 cylinder (you could get a 1.0 in Europe), first production car ever sold with a CVT, last production car ever sold with a carburetor, they're neat little cars where every single part was unique to the justy.

[@dustyphillips3166]

I think the modern Mini would be much more popular in the U.S. if they were even close to reliable.

[@flipflopthong2]

Australian produced Minis differed somewhat. From around 1970, they all had the Clubman front and rectangular tail lights. For the new Mini. Australian Design Rules required modifications to the centrally mounted speedo (which didn't apply to the original model).

[@jamesredman462]

I recall seeing Mini's when visiting Italy, France, and some in Germany when being raised in Europe. It's hard to remember vehicles in Britain. There were very interesting due to the design and it's ability to be so light in size. The last ones seen were at this Mini dealer, but never had a chance to visit them.

[@duaneadams9010]

The Mini also featured in a New Zealand movie from 1980 called Goodbye Pork Pie

[@SD-ol9os]

Another fantastic video!

[@dsprings8565]

Loved loved this show

[@KyrosTheWolf]

My mum has the latest mini model. It's ironic how the brake lights are designed to look like the Union Jack flag even though it was built in Germany

[@baldyhead]

No minis are built in Germany; most are built in the UK, except the convertible and countryman which are made in the Netherlands and Austria. The electric cars are going to be made in China, though currently they are UK made.

[@forsomemasses]

Yes, German-owned, but still very much manufactured at the legendary Oxford plant 🇬🇧

[@MultiTelan]

That recovery at 5:59 was godly. Same with the one at 6:33.

[@skydive7054]

was just about to say that!

[@Polecat54941]

Good video! And as the owner of a Mk4 Mr bean Mini I can assure that those BMW things are not a Mini anymore than a Timex watch is a Rolex :)

[@mikeross801]

I have had, and recommended many Toyotas but the Celica and Celica Supra would make a great episode!

[@JeffKing310]

Great video as always. John Cooper sure looks like James Garner to me.

[@ExUSSailor]

I owned a fully restored '74 Leyland Mini 1000. It was inconvenient, and, incredibly uncomfortable to drive for any more than 30 minutes. But, it made everyone who saw it smile.

[@googleuser3760]

Excellent video. 👍👍

[@minimaxi802]

Forgot to mention the luxury versions of the Mini, Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet, the only models with an extended boot.

[@forsomemasses]

BMW could use those cool names for new MINI models (or limited editions at least)

[@addarryllcrawford62375]

Still waiting patiently for the next Pontiac episode... I'd honestly like to see the Bonneville featured on this channel.

[@briannavarrete49]

Hoping to see a my old car video of the ford econoline vans

[@gabrielrogers2971]

I just love you dude ! I’m from Corunna

[@ThomasFarquhar2]

(before watching the video) the only problem I see with the mini is they never really stopped making them, and you can only sell the same tiny car to everyone for so long until the people of the 80s can just get spares from the dozen scrapyard minis in their village , 2 dozen if it's a town and a good 4 dozen if it's a city

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

😳 OOOO KAAAY....⁉️ 👍

[@someonebald2022]

The Mini automatic transmission is a work of genius in itself.

[@joshuathompson2131]

Unless you drove one and realized how poor and sluggish they were. Good luck going anywhere.

[@someonebald2022]

@@joshuathompson2131 I didn't say it was fast 🙃 in fact the term "Slush box" could have been invented for it. It's just the way it used the engine oil. The same transmission was used in the 1100 and 1300 auto, and sometimes owners would have a slightly thinner extra plate put in the clutch so it shifted better

[@joshuathompson2131]

The autos I drove always seemed to be on the cusp of exploding before shifting. I love thr shared oil lube though, but I was running a 20w50 weight which is amazingly thick and was hard to find on base. When I did find it the auto store asked what truck I had and when I told them it was for my mini they were shocked 😆

[@btrdangerdan2010]

My favorite childhood car

[@baldyhead]

I've owned a mk.1 850; a Clubman and, until recently, an RSP Cooper. They were ten a penny in the UK in the 70s/80s and many people's first car. If I'd known how valuable they would become, I wouldn't have been so careless about my ownership.

[@derpinguin7003]

Would love to learn something about Opel cars

[@Where_is_Waldo]

I wondered if you would include Mr. Bean's original "orange" (or, to me, red) Mini. Also, I was surprised to hear you call the later, more iconic paint scheme "green" as it has always looked yellow to me. I never imagined that someone would see that and think that color is green. I wonder if that's a difference in the way our eyes perceive color or just a difference in the way we classify colors.

[@imkirbo3094]

Think you may be partially colourblind in all honesty, it couldn't be anymore green.

[@jrussellcase]

It's not just you. I thought that car was yellow as well. I don't know if I'm colorblind, or it's how they filmed it, or what. But I've also heard other people call it green, so who knows.

[@Where_is_Waldo]

@@jrussellcase I've always wondered if everyone sees colors differently, as in what I see as red, you might see as blue and what I see as blue, you might see as red and we wouldn't know it. There certainly seems to be a difference in perception of what point in the scale green is differentiated from yellow or yellow from orange or orange from red, green from blue and so on but I don't think there's any way we could even know what color someone else sees when they refer to something as a particular color, all we can say for sure is they can distinguish it from other colors. I don't think I'm colorblind though because every color I've heard of is a color I can see... except one, I forget the name of the color but apparently it was discovered, I think sometime in the last decade or so, that a few people have a very rare ability to see a color most people can't.

[@rapa2265]

Well those cars are not purely orange or red, green or yellow. They are actually intermediate colors, red/orange and yellow/green.

[@Where_is_Waldo]

@@rapa2265 The red does look a bit orange to me, I think of it as a faded red and the yellow does have maybe a faint tinge of lime green now that I look for it.

[@PapaVanTwee5]

I've sat in one of the new Minis and thought it was pretty small, especially compared to other American cars, including my first car, a Chevy Chevette. Alas, seeing it next to an original Mini I can see it's huge.

[@AJ-HawksToxicFinger]

Another great video, thanks! How about one on the Ford Falcon (as usual do the global version so you cover the Mad Max car!)

[@johnrobinson5156]

Looks like a Deathtrap w/accident on American roads. Human compactor if hit by heavy vehicle. Still, it's really cool GoCar!

[@clipobserver]

In the beginning of CHIPS, Jon Baker drove a Mini. Guessing later on, the producers (and maybe Larry Wilcox) thought a truck would be more Baker's style.

[@anthony_rivera4735]

Please Do a video on the Ford Explorer sport trac pickup

[@kilohotel6750]

I would love to get a classic Mini with the Honda Civic drivetrain. They are way out of my budget so I settled on a 2011 JCW and it’s so much fun to drive. Even being bigger than the original sitting in traffic today it’s so small compared to all the trucks and SUV’s out there.

[@mikemc330]

Great video.

[@bradpoer]

An electrified classic Mini is my dream car. That dream seems a little more doable each year- and that’s a good feeling even if I have no idea when it’ll come true

[@NGMonocrom]

It isn't just America's SUV and large car dominated market. BMW did a horrendously awful job with the new Mini in terms of overall quality and the quality of the engines. Reliability is in the toilet. Let's not gloss over that fact. As the Brits would say, _"It's rubbish!"_

[@williewalker8048]

My high school best friend had a first-generation Mini. It was easily picked up by 4 of us high school football players and put on the sidewalk. The day I got my drivers licence we rolled it during a sudden rain shower. Seat Belts do save lives 😜

[@hazedhd4902]

My R56 (Mk2 from BMW) has a really good Weight distribution. Even though it's the One Version with 98hp. I wanted an Cooper S but they were money pits around my area, mostly Turbo almost busted. But i'm glad to have at least my NA 1.6, Stage 1 optimization will come up to 130HP, so it will technically be a Cooper, only the roof spoiler must be added

[@robclark3095]

SUVs, crossovers, and 4-door pickup trucks need to go the way of the dodo.

[@johnnymason2460]

That's highly unlikely to happen anytime soon. We do need cars to come back immediately.

[@paulqueripel3493]

no mention of the Moke, Elf or Hornet?

[@maddsheep]

Can you do a video on the Buick Park avenue it was my mom's first car and because of that she loves Buicks and honestly I'm very interested in the general history of that car she had a 1995 or 96 model it was a purple color and the nicest car she ever owned despite it being her first and only very recently did she just buy a car that replaced it in terms of luxury

[@thedeadstig123]

That "1971 mini" in the auction you show footage of, it isn't a mk3 mini, thats a much later 1990s mini which was ringed to make it old enough to import into the USA.....

[@gabrielrogers2971]

I have been thinking about getting a mini

[@kingkatradio]

Waiting for Mazda 626

[@dennisud]

The funny part here I personally know of 6 of my friends and acquaintances either have had or are buying a BMW mini this year.

[@johnd8892]

The Mini derived four speed automatic with a road test in the Australian Nomad car : kzbin.info/www/bejne/inOQo2WAidiHo80 Car based on the Morris 1100 which was BMC extending the mini design ideas to size larger car that gave an interior several sizes larger. The Nomad was one of the first hatchback cars on the market. Designed in Australia to use as many Morris 1100 parts as possible but using a new 1500 cc OHC motor. The auto could only easily cope with the 1275 A series as in this car.

[@jessiesratrods1210]

I love my '06. Cars got bigger bc of safety and amenities but compared to all the diesel dually trucks and full sized SUVs and Jacked up off road cars where I live my lil Hyper Blue mini is my adorable and loveable 'Lil Blu"

[@forsomemasses]

True! I have a nanuq white F56 with a black roof. We call him Astro Boy 😅

[@christopherkraft1327]

Mini's are fun cars, Mr Bean proved it time & time again!!! 😂🤣😂🎃

[@doug6191]

Can't wait for the Mazda 929 video. 🙃

[@kingkatradio]

I'll 2nd that

[@johnnymason2460]

I would like to see a video on the Mazda 929 as well. We may get a mention of the stillborn Amati luxury brand.

[@robertj2]

Great story. When you say that the manufacturer became its own ‘mark’ you mean ‘marKEE.’

[@justsumguy2u]

As an American, I'd only drive the British version. Unfortunately, my fellow countrymen have to have everything large-sized, and so the BMW Mini is big and bloated....much like many of the people that drive them.

[@danr1920]

I would own one, but the frequency and cost of repairs makes it unacceptable. Too bad.

[@stevenjoy3537]

Austin, Morris AND Wolseley

[@CountryballstudiosYT]

7:34 Michael Caine you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off me i’m from America

[@kevinbarry71]

A car that British people believe is the best car in the known universe; but most people who aren't British don't agree.

[@PearComputingDevices]

Bean! Love it!

[@davidfuertes1973]

What the cars you don’t see anymore are the Alpha Romero spiders? MG these are two cars I haven’t seen since the late 80’s

[@johnd8892]

Alfa Romeo for those searching. Correct spelling will help.

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

can you do a video on the Pontiac Ventura/Phoenix and the K platform or the first gen Cadillac Seville which was Cadillac's first smallish car and 2nd best selling model in the history of the Cadillac company also there's have been SUV's around since the 60s such as the Ford Bronco/Chevrolet K5/S10 Blazer and an EV version of the S10 Blazer hits dealerships for the 2024 model year in summer/fall 2023

[@iznbrgwhite421]

Do a clip on the 1st gen 1989 Acura integra.

[@trainglen22]

Have you ever done one on the Ford Fairmont?

[@sethmunoz3608]

Could you do the video on Buick LeSabre

[@michaelfleming40]

How about the History of the Datsun Pick Up truck?

[@nickzaccaria5200]

please cover the mk3 (86.5-92) supra!!

[@Daniel28021991]

The old ones are so cute

[@wesleyclark947]

Can you do a video on the Nissan sx cars?

[@ilovetotri23]

Smashing the thumbs button!

[@davinp]

Mr. Bean drove a yellow one on his TV show. Mr. Bean is a British sitcom created by Rowan Atkinson

[@braino64]

The color was actually green, with a black hood too.

[@davinp]

@@braino64 I see. It is light green which makes almost yellow

[@runoflife87]

No information on Mini sales in the US? How come?

[@johnnymason2460]

I don't believe that the original Mini was ever offered officially in the United States.

[@runoflife87]

@@johnnymason2460 it was for a short time. As Austin Mini of course.

[@clarksonoceallachain8536]

Japanese and British make the lightest cars Hopefully Britian leaving the EU means Britian will be less german As german ways won't fit in the future

[@jeffzekas]

The new mini is a fake, it is a BMW wearing mini badges. The only way to get a real new mini, is to buy a body shell brand new, and then attach parts from an old mini.

[@raymonde4272]

You can fit an entire original Mini inside the interior of a new Mini Clubman.