Witten in 2009 to celebrate 50 years of the
iconic small car, this appropriately small, chunky book surveys all things
mini.
While the narrative moves chronologically
through the inspirational birth, troubled launch, technical challenges,
unexpected market success, to the final achievement as cool icon, Wainwright
brings in other strands to vary and broaden the story.
He visits current enthusiast rallies to
garner anecdotes and talks to old engineers and production line staff to get
the inside stories. The mini’s wide cultural influences also get a good airing,
including but by no means limited to Mr Bean (TV), The Italian Job (film),
Damien Hirst’s spotty mini (art) and John Betjeman’s “Meditation on the A30”
(poetry).
Sport is represented from the sublime (Monte
Carlo Rally success) to the ridiculous (mini-cramming, with the record at time
of publication being 21 lithe female Malaysian students). And of course the
celebrity involvement, which turned out so important for the brand image, is covered
in pictures and words, ranging from the comedic (Kate Moss’s parking attempts)
to the tragic (Marc Bolan’s death).
But for me it is the engineering and
business development that gives the book meaning. The role of designer Alec
Issigonis is well known, as is John Cooper’s involvement in souping up the
engine; less so is the importance of engineer Bill Cull’s revolutionary
constant velocity joint. The book also cleared up my (understandable) confusion
over the Austin and Morris marques, not to mention how the Wolseley Hornet and
Riley Elf fit into the picture.
Anyone who has had a mini will find much to smile
about, and a rich fund of fascinating facts to drop into conversations whenever
(and it is surprisingly often) the mini gets mentioned.
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