Author: Art Gib
Title: Mini Cooper: A Brief Overview Of The History Of A Classic
Article: There’s no doubt about it: Mini Coopers are one of the hottest cars on the American market and have been for the last 5 years. Although they’ve been a standard favorite in the European market for decades, it took a little longer for this great little vehicle to catch on in the United States; but it has taken the nation by storm and Americans’ fascination with this automotive gem shows no signs of waning anytime soon. Here’s a brief overview of the history of this classic model of European ingenuity.
An integral part of the British Motor Company (BMC) Corporation from 1959 to 2000, the Mini has proven that really great and lasting things can indeed come in small packages. As these little beauties hit the streets and the rally circuit in droves, they became as iconic a symbol of 1960′s era cars as the Volkswagen Beetle.
Like most ultra-small automobiles, this one was developed in reaction to a fuel shortage: this one taking place in Britain in the latter part of the 50′s. It should come as no surprise, then, that the American public should take to the Mini Cooper during this current decade of off and on high fuel prices. That the United States driving public should develop a fascination with the Mini represents a real shift in the American paradigm that “bigger is better.” And, of course, today’s Mini comes in attractive convertible styles, fun colors, and racing stripes!
Although sales of Minis were initially sluggish, they really began to take off when they showed up in popular movies and TV shows of the day. Variations of the original Mini were produced over the years, including a “station wagon” of sorts called the Austin Mini Countryman, complete with exterior wood panels. During the 1970′s, there was even a Mini open-bed pick-up truck on the market which enjoyed moderate success.
Today’s Minis are produced by BMW, and they enjoy worldwide success thanks to their appealing retro design and undeniable fuel efficiency. The name is now capitalized, and the car is known officially as the BMW MINI. Amazingly, over 1 million of these automobiles have been produced in the last 7 years. It took nearly 40 years for the original company to produce and distribute that number! Today, MINI Coopers are a ubiquitous sight on America’s highways, and owners are loyal to them thanks to their increased size and modern amenities.
Minis are truly a one of a kind automobile, and BMW is keeping the tradition of the original alive with its newest version. BMW of Sterling (http://www.miniofsterling.com/) is a Mini Cooper Washington DC. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com