Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was known as “Alec” for obvious reasons. Unlike his rather long name, his designs were typically quite small and simple. In the early forties, he developed the Morris Minor. During that period, he was strongly influenced by the 1941 Packard Clippers, except small in scale. IN 1947, Lord Nuffield (Will Morris) saw Alec’s Morris Minor, and was outraged by the styling, referring to it as “a poached egg.” Still, the car was built, and embraced by the public who bought a million of them over the next eleven years.
Alec Issigonis is best known for creating the venerable Morris Mini, a car some consider to be the precursor of all modern hatchbacks. He described his design for the 1959 Mini as “an ideal car for a district nurse.” It was a bare-bones economy car from point A to point B. Nothing about the inexpensive and astoundingly compact four-seater hinted at its performance potential.
However, Formula 1 racing legend John Cooper soon reengineered the car, employing a number of upgrades like a 997cc engine borrowed from a formula junior racing car, and tiny 7-inch disc brakes. He then presented the prototype to BMC, the British Motor Corporation. Chairman Sir George Harriman green-lighted the project, but doubted that they could sell the 1,000 cars required for Group 1 homologation.
The demand for the little cars exceeded all expectations, inspiring other versions. The Cooper ‘S’ received larger brakes, and a newly developed 1071cc plant, which provided an additional 15 bhp. The next year, the Mini-Cooper gained two more new models, the 970 and 1275S. It also entered the Monte Carlo Rally, and won for four consecutive years.
Mini-Coopers began taking trophies at rallies and races all over the world, and a following developed which defied demographics. Like the Volkswagen, the Mini appealed to everyone from movie stars and royalty, to everyday people. The little cars were sold to enthusiastic buyers worldwide.
Toward the end of 1968, the British Motor Corporation merged with Leyland. British Leyland had no use for cars carrying extraneous names, and no desire to pay royalties in order to retain them. As a result, the Mini-Cooper was dropped in 1969. The Cooper ‘S’ followed in 1971, even though both were still viable, popular cars.
The Mini-Cooper was reintroduced by Rover Special Products in 1990, and has produced regularly ever since in various forms. Most recently BMW is preparing to launch an all-new Mini which they’re gambling will do for them what the New Beetle has done for Volkswagen. Given the Mini’s track record, it’s probably a safe bet.