August 26: On This Day in World History … briefly
BMW acquired the Rover Group (formerly British Leyland) in 1994, and sold the greater part of it in 2000, but retained the rights to build cars using the Mini name.
1989: Big cheer for the ‘Mini marvel’
The Mini – the incredibly special little car celebrated its 30th birthday today, August 26, 1989. Few heads turned when the small wonder was first unveiled at the British Motor Corporation’s Longbridge factory in Birmingham.
Production was a modest 20 000 cars in the first year, but the figure leapt to 381 000 in 1970. The Mini took off thanks largely to a series of major rally wins and its adoption by the rich and famous.
The little car was seen roaring to victory in the Monte Carlo rallies of 1964, 1965 and 1967 and nipping about Swinging London, piloted by the likes of John Lennon, Peter Sellers, Twiggy and Marianne Faithfull.
Designer Sir Alec Issigonis, who died in 1988, would no doubt have joined the thousands of enthusiasts who turned up at Silverstone race circuit to wish the 10-ft (3m) marvel many happy returns.
Most notable historic snippets or facts extracted from the book ‘On This Day’ first published in 1992 by Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London, as well as additional supplementary information extracted from Wikipedia.
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