Mini Insurance
Mr Bean, the much loved eccentric, comic British TV character, gets into his Mini in almost every episode, slowly and happily driving along without any worry in the world. Also known as a bubble car the mini is thought of fondly today perhaps it summons feelings of nostalgia.
The Mini is the most popular car ever produced on British soil. Small and compact, the Mini was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered an icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving layout influenced a generation of car-makers.
The birth of the Mini was due to a fuel shortage which happened in 1956, as a result of the Suez Crisis which reduced oil supplies and saw the UK reintroduce petrol rationing. Sales of large cars dived, and there was a need in the market for so-called Bubble cars. By October 1957, the prototype had been designed and built and the original prototype became affectionately known as 'The Orange Box' because of its colour. The suspension system used compact rubber cones instead of conventional springs. This clever design shrank the overall size of the suspension, meaning that it could take up less space. Although the use of the rubber cones led to a rather raw and bumpy ride, consumers actually enjoyed the feeling of being in touch, with the road.
In the late 1960s plans had been in place for a newer and more practical supermini to replace the outdated face of the Mini, even though it was hugely popular. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, various editions of the Mini were brought onto the market, which eventually allowed for the Mini to become a fashion statement. It was even more popular in Japan, where it was seen as retro-cool. The ERA Mini Turbo was particularly popular with Japanese buyers.
Yet, production figures for the Mini dipped during the 1980s, and interest in the now-iconic design was not revived until the reintroduction of the famous Mini Cooper in 1989. This helped the car retain its desirability and driver appeal throughout the 1990s, right up to the end of production on 4 October 2000. By April 2000, the range consisted of four versions: the Mini Classic Seven, the Mini Classic Cooper, and the Mini Classic Cooper Sport. The last Mini (a red Cooper Sport) was built on October 4, 2000. A total of 5,387,862 cars had been manufactured. In the end, 5.3 million Minis were sold, making it the most popular British car ever made. Thousands of these are still on the road, with the remaining versions of the 60s and 70s being prestigious favourites amongst collectors.
Eight years after its demise, the Mini is still a common sight on British roads, with the brand name for the new car being MINI. Some Mini enthusiasts refuse the MINI as the natural successor of the original car. One reason for this criticism is that the classic Mini could have continued in viable production for many more years had it not been discarded to make way for the MINI. On April 3rd 2007, the one millionth MINI rolled out of the Oxford Plant after six years of production - just one month longer than it took the classic Mini to reach the same total in March 1965!
With the Mini being so compact there are obvious economical benefits, the car boasts one of the best fuel consumption levels in its class and also having a smaller engine size means there are numerous car insurance benefits available for your Mini.
The Mini has won many awards over the years, perhaps the most notable include: "Car of the Century" (Autocar magazine 1995), "Number One Classic Car of All Time" (Classic & Sports Car magazine 1996) and "European Car of the Century" in a worldwide Internet poll run by the prestigious Global Automotive Elections Foundation in 1999. The Mini managed second place (behind the Model T Ford) for "Global Car of the Century" in that same poll. Although the old Mini is sorely missed, the new variations are still enjoyed by those with a sporty heart, and a love for the vintage.