CB1100 Monthly Photo Challenge

[Henrik_imp]

wow the green one looks so tiny, like a toy really.

I know! Even more so using a tilt-shift filter:

wow the green one looks so tiny, like a toy really.

That's what I mean - the original Mini was revolutionary. VERY small but all sorts of space-saving features abounded, like tiny wheels, no linings in the doors, sliding windows, Hydrolastic (rubber) suspension and so on. The engines were gradually upped, with John Cooper performance variations too, from 848cc, 997, 998, 1071 and 1275 engine sizes.
But then BMW have taken this unique, superb concept, pinched a few styling cues to put on their new MID-SIZED car and called it... a MINI!! Darned cheek of it!!
The new Mini is a darned good car, don't get me wrong, but the original Mini was such a British style icon, it's a bit of a choker!

That's what I mean - the original Mini was revolutionary. VERY small but all sorts of space-saving features abounded, like tiny wheels, no linings in the doors, sliding windows, Hydrolastic (rubber) suspension and so on. The engines were gradually upped, with John Cooper performance variations too, from 848cc, 997, 998, 1071 and 1275 engine sizes.
But then BMW have taken this unique, superb concept, pinched a few styling cues to put on their new MID-SIZED car and called it... a MINI!! Darned cheek of it!!
The new Mini is a damned good car, don't get me wrong, but the original Mini was such a British style icon, it's a bit of a choker!
And I totally agree with you. I have always loved the original Mini, and they have been part of my life ever since I was born. In BMW's defense, crash safety development together with an ever growing desire to have all the various creature comforts and just bigger cars of the buyers of today is really what killed the Mini. It could probably live on in Japan with their kei care regulations, and there they still make some very cool and useful tiny cars.

In case you are interested, you can read more about my passion for Minis on my blog: https://henmyr.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-...eries.html