Mini Time Line
Part 1 – The Early Years, Through 1962
Last Updated October 27, 2012. Information added and corrections made.
Please, see the Notes and Sources listed at the end of the last Time Line article.
1893
October
1906
November
1922
- Charles Newton Cooper married Elsie Pond.
1923
July
1952
-
The British Motor Corporation (BMC) was formed in 1952 by joining the Nuffield Organization (Morris, MG, Riley, and Wolseley) with the Austin Motor Company. It was during BMC’s reign that the Mini was designed and introduced.
1955
Fall
1956
July
- Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal on the 26th. With the main route for oil to the West closed, “bubble” cars are born in response to scarce fuel.
November
- Leonard Lord gave Issigonis instructions to move from the bigger car projects he had been working on to a small car project. Although Issigonis was given free reign for the car, he was required to use a current production engine.
1957
January
- Issigonis started his notebook on the XC/9003 with material weight calculations and an estimate of the car’s length: 116”.
February/March
- A very basic prototype (XC/9003) was on the road and tested during the two months. The first official test run was on February 22.
July
-
Leonard Lord, based on a demonstration of the improved prototype and a look over the production wood mock up, gave the OK for the Mini project on the 19th. It was code named ADO 15 and early on was referred to as the Austin Newmarket.
August
- The engine size was fixed at 848ccs.
October
- On a trip to the Paris Motor Show, Issigonis, Jack Daniels, John Sheppard and Dick Burzi became interested in the recent launch of the first man made satellite, Sputnik. They wondered whether their car would have the same around the world impact and picked up on the Sputnik name. The future Mini became known as the Sputnik to the insiders. (Other versions of this story can be found in the Mini literature.)
1958
March
- Five preproduction cars were assembled in a manner similar to production methods.
May
- The decision to forego hydrolastic suspension on the XC/9003 was made on the 19th.
July
October
- The preproduction cars made an extended testing trip to Spain and back.
1959
March
April
- The first two Austin production Minis came off the end of the line at Longbridge on the 3rd.
- A prototype Van was shown in a factory photo. The gas tank filler was on the left side and about foot behind the front door.
June/July
- Even though production of cars that would be for sale in August had already started, the final testing program had not been completed. A major testing trip was taken in June and July covering thousands of miles in all the major European countries, as well as a trip north of the Arctic Circle.
August
September
Misc.
1960
January
-
The Van went into production. The first Austins were produced around the week of the 11th, and the first Morrises were produced around the week of the 18th. (See June for first time available.) Longer by 9 5/8”. Wheelbase 4” longer. 6-gallon (UK) fuel tank under the rear floor. Longer rear suspension trumpets, spare wheel and battery behind the front seats under the leading edge of the load floor. Passenger seat and rear view mirror were extra cost options!
March
- The first production Austin Countryman was built. (See September for on sale date.)
April
June
-
The Van went on sale.
- The first production Morris Traveller was built. (See September for sale date.)
- Australian assembled CKD Minis were tested.
September/October
-
The Countryman (Austin) and Traveller (Morris) Estate cars (with wood) went on sale. They had the same “long” wheelbase and length as the Van. Unlike the Morris Minor Traveller, the Mini’s wood was non-structural. Because of trim levels, the Estates weighed over 120 pounds more than the Van and over 160 pounds more than the saloon. Initially, the gas tank was located inside the car in roughly the same position as a saloon tank (although it was of a different shape).
Misc.
1961
January
March
April
- The earliest prototype Cooper on record was produced.
June
July
-
The first 997 Coopers, Austin and Morris, were produced on the 11th. There were seven cars built on the 11th, 5 were Austin and 2 Morris. The first two Austins were black over red and the first two Morris cars, one OEW over smoke grey and one OEW over almond green. One Austin and one Morris were built with twin tanks. Of the first 500 cars (built through Oct. 11, 1961) the most popular color was a surprise: OEW over surf blue. The second most popular: OEW over smoke gray. The two colors accounted for over 200 of the first cars with the remaining ten color combinations accounting from the rest. Ten of the cars were monotone.
September
October
-
The 997 Cooper went on sale. (Some sources say September but probably are referring to the press introduction.) By stroking the 848 and reducing the bore slightly, 997cc was achieved. The long stroke engine with a good cam, twin HS2 carbs, and other modifications, produced 62% more horsepower (55) than the 848. A remote gear change was added and 7” disc brakes were fitted. Of the first 500 cars built (through the 11th): Austin 269, Morris 231.
- The booted Minis became available. The Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet went on sale. Mechanically, they were the same as the Austin/Morris saloons, and they used the same wheelbase as the saloon; i.e., they were NOT a long wheel base Mini like the Van, Pickup and Estate. With the extended boot they were 8.5” longer than the saloon and just shorter than the Van and Estates. Weight for the Elf was 114 pounds more than the standard saloon with the Hornet a little less. All versions used the extended boot and a traditional Riley or Wolseley shaped grille. There was a full width wood dash in the Elf, and a center pod wood dash in the Hornet. Leather faced seats were standard; although, not on all the early cars. Bumpers and some exterior trim varied from the standard saloon. Whitewall tires were an option!
Misc.
-
157,059 were produced in 1961. Total Minis to date, 293,485. Of those, the new-to-1961 Cooper accounted for 1775 cars of which only 11 of the first 500 are on the Mini Cooper Register’s list of survivors as of mid-2011.
1962
January
May
June
September
October
November
Misc.
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