What’s the Greatest Machine of the 1960s…the Morris Mini-Minor?

[@theondebray]

Remarkable considering that the Mini design was developed in the 1950s, and the inspiration for all FWD transverse engined cars that populate our roads today. Still the most popular car on the club racing circuit, as they are relatively cheap, ALL parts easily available, and all DIY-able. I've always had a Mini (van) since 1969, have just finished restoring my '81 van. 👍

[@charlesroberts2166]

Brilliant cars ... I had several of them ... from 850's to 1275's. Far more character than the current, plastic, tasteless object they call Minis these days. And on the subject of calling them Minis ... they should be done under the Trades Descriptions Act. Compare these dimensions ... Old Minis L: 120" H: 48" W: 48" Current Minis L: 150" H: 55" W: 68" I rest my case ;-)

[@crashbox7130]

Love Minis, I've had a few, but I disagree that it was the world's first mass-produced front-wheel-drive car. Citroen produced the 7CV/11CV Traction Avant in 1934, they then developed the 2CV between 1936-1939, which finally saw the light of day after the war, and the DS was launched in 1955. All three cars were mass-produced before the Mini was even a drawing on a piece of paper. The 2CV's engineering was actually an inspiration to Alec Issigonis. They had one at the BMC design office in Longbridge for examination. Alex Moulton was very impressed by the design of the little Citroen's suspension, but felt it was over-engineered and too expensive and complicated for the Mini.

[@highdownmartin]

Thanks. Saved me writing something similar. ! 1st British mass production FWD car would have saved us both some time 👍

[@ethelmini]

@@highdownmartin 1st with a transverse engine - like so many models that followed.

[@alfredfabulous3640]

The 2CV wasn't really a car......rather, it resembled an ugly walking aid, which, as you described it, was developed during war time conditions and also resembled this. For its time, it might have been the best solution, as there was nothing better in the same price class.

[@simonf8902]

Lancia started FWD in the 1920s.

[@TheOhhblind]

This was absolutely bloody brilliant to watch

[@demarinr]

AnfarwolColo Jon cm mc b nnbbbbnnkv

[@kyreeforest4868]

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[@angellee7741]

@Kyree Forest instablaster =)

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[@leifvejby8023]

First mass produced front wheel driven car? Hold my traction-avant!

[@britishpride8026]

What a beast of a Morris mini👍they def never expected it to be the most popular car then & even now has a hugh following

[@pauljnolan1000]

An extraordinarily well-done video, informative and entertaining. Thank you very much.

[@neilmustow368]

My Dad owned 3 Mk 1 Mini's in the 60's loved them to bits his last one was a Morris Mini Cooper Reg No XDL 861 in green with a white roof

[@rogbrown1458]

I owned a 997 Morris mini cooper reg 708 gho. Rog. Pacific sunset records.

[@BigFanofCars]

That's my number one favourite car ever!

[@paulrobinson3528]

Mine to, always have a smile on your face when your in one.

[@gavinmathew7491]

Brilliant video. Thank you.

[@stevedickson5853]

Sorry Chris, i couldn't resist the pun..that "Red Dwarf " of a car sure looks great 👍

[@Quinntheeskimo99]

Bought one of these new in 1962, from Palace Motors, Birkenhead. It a basic model, like this one, in Sunburst Yellow, so no windscreen washers. I used to keep a washing up liquid bottle full of soapy water in the door pocket. After 3 years if looked very tired, after about 50,000 miles, and failed the first MOT due to rotten sub frame!

[@Radfordperson]

Yes, rear subframes could rust. Around 1969 I fitted a new one to my 1962 Mini, treated it well with paint underseal and wax, it's still perfect today!

[@alfredfabulous3640]

I don't get it...always thought Britain was a country where it predominantly was wet and humid....surely, they must have taken this fact into account!

[@DudeWivAutism]

I internally scream when ppl chat shit on this beautiful car

[@davidjb65]

The Mini wasn't the first production Front wheel drive car. The Trabant P500 was introduced 2 years earlier.

[@bigedd555]

Some preferred the Austin version, including me. I had a 1968 Austin Mini Cooper 998

[@bludgeonedbabyseal]

I had a 69 Austin Cooper too. I wish I'd kept it.

[@emmajacobs5575]

What was the difference between Austin and Morris Minis?

[@bigedd555]

@@emmajacobs5575 The look was different, they had different grills, badges etc. Mechanically they were the same.

[@emmajacobs5575]

@@bigedd555 that's what I thought. I preferred the Morris grille, myself

[@BigFanofCars]

Seen The Italian Job? Great movie!

[@mrrolandlawrence]

I was thinking of the jaguar e-type! don't get more classic than that chris. even Enzo Ferrari said it was the most beautiful car ever made. IG also managed to forget to check the regs in the USA so all the wings had to be modified to raise the light height. Whoops. He also created the Austin Maxi. Jack Knight also developed the mini gearbox in a weekend. The mini was not weather weather tested so ALL mk1 ones were recalled for leaks. woops2. Mk1 was the best looking. Surprising no photos of Marc Bolan in his mini? Let's be honest we all love the mini from the Italian Job ;)

[@stevehankins513]

Enzo Ferrari had 3 mini cooper S's of his own. The mk1 was recalled due to the floor panels being welded the wrong way around allowing water in as the joint faced the wrong way

[@tonydoggett7627]

There was a standard plastic cowl, that was on the distributor (at least on Aussie built mini’s ) that greatly increases the reliability in the rain.

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

I have had a few Brit cars and was always perplexed at how poorly they did in rain. Come on, it rains a lot in the UK. Did the engineers not notice?

[@kyle8952]

Citroen traction-avant was front wheel drive and mass produced, and that was 30 years earlier.

[@hlund73]

No transverse engine, did he not say that?

[@ethelmini]

@@sjanzeir I never said it was, not too bothered if Chris did either. The fact remains the majority of production cars since have copied its transverse engine fwd concept.

[@johnd8892]

Transverse engine front wheel drive only took off after the Fiat 128 or a lesser known Autobianchi had the sense to get the gearbox out of the sump. Only BMC clung to the sump gearbox idea.

[@malasyu]

Nice to see a Hologram review the Mini

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

It was not the first mass produced front wheel drive car. The Citroen Traction Avant of the 30's has that honor. GB, second again behind the French.

[@johnd8892]

Then from the late forties the 2CV sold in even larger numbers. So the mini not even second.

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

@@johnd8892 True, I have a 2CV and love it. But the "Blood and Guts Sandwich" or "Biscuit Tin on Wheels" was an amazing car and was the one which truly changed the industry. It got the notice the 2CV should have gotten. And the Mini was a great car. And it had the zip the 2CV never had. It was not built as cheap transportation for French farmers but for more urbanized middle class Britons.

[@aleddavies770]

This guys voice suits the 60s

[@davidprocter3578]

whilst not transverse I think you will find Citroen produced the first front wheel drive cars in fact the first drawings of the 2cv were done in 1924.

[@DudeWivAutism]

Is that rimmer from red dwarf?

[@ronleitch7788]

What about it’s predecessor, the Morris Minor? From another Manufacturer, the various Ford Anglias?

[@stottybox3185]

Dont know about the radio comment, but i am sure no cars had them back then, maybe as an optional extra, just like the heater.

[@marciocarvalho8975]

2 CV was front weel drive and borned before mini so, this wasnt the first large production car whit that layout

[@jamesrippard4998]

Didn’t expect this should have reached if I have 8 of then

[@petrhoward]

MNister Bean!

[@anaisdahle]

Gordon Brittas! so that's what you are doing these days ^^

[@redchthonic]

Drive one now, especially a non Cooper and they are so slow, noisy and dangerously lightly built. I worked on a lot and they were all terribly rusty. No door bars or any safety gear. A standard mini won't make the motorway speed limit.

[@marciocarvalho8975]

Algumas não verdades aqui mencionadas, que não tiram mérito ao Mini

[@gerrywood3584]

New 1500 bucks in 1967

[@handsonbrompton7875]

😚👌

[@lewisarmani5137]

Rimmer

[@coreyfreedom9859]

What a smeghead lol

[@savitalakhwara4198]

You missed mr bean

[@slh950]

Marc Bolan was killed in a Mini ... damned unsafe little boxes

[@Mr71paul71]

Have been in a head on crash in a mini at the UK A road speed limit (60mph) I can say from first hand experience their safe !!! I came out of the crash with nothing but bumps and bruises and successful past my motorcycle driving test the day after. So don't tell me minis aren't safe

[@highdownmartin]

He drove into a fucking tree!

[@slh950]

@@highdownmartin oh. was the tree 'fucking' at the time? he should have been in a rolls royce ... would have been good for his voice

[@1000guy1]

The best car from the 50s/60s was the Volkswagen Beetle for me

[@aleddavies770]

Duke k Dave sorry but can't stand beetles

[@johnd8892]

Worldwide sales of the VW showed the buying public preferred it too.

[@drspaseebo410]

Stopped watching, got tired of the closeups of the man's face... I wanted to see the CAR !

[@nomimalone7520]

This dude was on Red Dwarf, right?