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Revolution in the land of car conventions - Mini Austin and Morris 850

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Created on February 21, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Archiv BMW AG

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Archiv

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Archiv BMW AG

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Archiv

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - the Morris version on the left, the Austin version on the right

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Austin 850 (1959) - pretty little car

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Austin 850 (1959) - clearly arranged trunk

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Austin 850 (1959) - plenty of interior space for its size

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Austin 850 (1959) - the compact engine-transmission-front axle unit

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Austin 850 (1959) - Tidbit front wheel suspension with rubber damping and subframe

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Austin Seven Mini 850 (1960) - Transparency drawing

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Austin Mini Minor 850 (1959) - at the 1959 London Motor Show - cutaway model reveals the secrets of the small front-wheel drive car

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Morris Mini Minor (1959) - early press photo in a harmonious frame

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Austin Mini Cooper (1962) - the cute little car got faster and faster over time

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Austin Mini 850 (1960) - Alec Issigonis next to his masterful design

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Austin Mini Seven 850 (1959) - one of the first press photos

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - the sliding windows reveal the early vintage

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - the first Mini with external door hinges and sliding windows

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - a design of the century

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - sparse but very functional interior in the original Mini

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - the original Mini has plenty of storage space

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Austin Seven 850 Mini (1959) - the seats are folded forward for boarding

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Austin Mini 850 (1960) - front view

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Summary

When BMC launched the Mini on the market, it was a thoroughly unconventional car that broke with tradition. The engineers around Issigonis had landed a stroke of genius, only the car buyers in Germany did not really want to recognize this - much to the annoyance of the tester of the magazine 'hobby', who was thoroughly convinced by the compact speedster. This article reproduces the restored text from 1959 and is illustrated with pictures from the time and a rich selection of historical photographs, including the handbook and sales materials.

This article contains the following chapters

As a replacement for the A 350 and Minor 1000
The most compact European small car
The most unconventional vehicle in England
Proven but modified engine
Transverse engine as a recipe for optimum space utilization
Front and rear axle on subframe
With rubber suspension
Only 3.05 meters long
Driving culture and performance!
Synchronization not up to German standards
Good-natured up to the limits
Economical sprinter
Too unconventional for Germany?
More attractive interior as a wish
A full year's warranty
Technical profile

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The British Motor Corporation (BMC) is the largest automotive group in Europe. Kr was formed by the merger of Austin with the Nutfield Group, which again included the companies Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG. Austin had a small car on the market, the A 35, Morris the Minor 1000 - both super-orthodox vehicles from which hardly anything more could be made. As early as 1951, Alex Issigonis, the chief designer, had a folder entitled 'Project ADO 15' on his desk. And from this project emerged the new Austin 850 and the new Morris 850. The two cars are twins, identical in every detail, only the front grilles are slightly different and they have different names on them. That's all - on honor and conscienceI Every single part is otherwise the same.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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