It is small, powerful and very popular. This is the Mini Cooper. First produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC), it launched itself onto the scene in England. It has since raced – in more ways than one, around the world. Today, you can purchase and receive Mini Cooper Service in Chicago, IL as easily as you can in London, UK.
The Beginning
Although the Mini launched itself onto an unsuspecting public in 1959, it was actually a child of the 1960s created by Sir Alec Issigonis (1906-1988). Its compact size and looks somehow shrieked fun, style and anti-establishment. It was a car to roll on down the highway in while saving gas. It was quick, handled well and struck the public as a representative of a youth culture. Overall, it was a breath of fresh air – and an inexpensive one at that.
The Classic Mini became popular. The people who drove it were not just the young crowd of hipsters tuned into the times. In England, it also became the darling of the average person as well as royalty. They loved what it stood for and drove it for the pure pleasure it offered. What was soon to be uncovered was the very power a Mini could exert on a race track.
The Rise of the Mini Cooper
In 1961, John Cooper, a living British racing legend, got together with Sir Alec Issigonis. Together they created what was the Classic Mini Cooper 997. This was no ordinary Mini. It soon began to prove its ability on race tracks around the world. It won the prestigious Monte Carlo rally three times from 1964 to 1967. It had actually won it in 1966 as well, but a ruling by the French judges disqualified the cars after they had placed first, second and third in the race for a variation on the headlights – something that failed to remove the eventual winner, a the Citroën DS, from the winner’s circle.
In the years that followed, the sales of Minis continued to rise. Variations of the original model began to make their way onto the market. Soon a station wagon and pick up version appeared for sale with sales climbing to over 2 million in 1969. By 1977, the sales figures had increased to more than 4 million.
The figures continued to increase. The popularity of the Mini Cooper led to a prestigious honor in 1999. It was named as the second most influential car for the 20th century. One hundred and thirty automotive journalists had voted in its favor to be named “European Car of the Century.” The Mini Cooper has also taken the 2003 North American Car of the Year Award.
Nor is the story of this gusty small vehicle over. It has since undergone a small facelift. While some look askance at this new look, others know it is still the same. Mini Cooper service in Chicago continues to recognize the needs of this car and recognizes it for what it truly is a world of its own in miniature.
