2025 marks 66 years since the British Motor Corporation unveiled the groundbreaking Mini, and the iconic model is still going strong today under the stewardship of BMW.
Nat King Cole’s King Cole Trio may have got their kicks on Route 66 way back in 1946, but fast forward to 2025 and the groundbreaking Mini is on lap 66 and still capturing hearts and minds all over the globe.
On 26 August 1959, the British Motor Corporation unveiled the first Mini, a humble little machine designed to help get Britain mobile again after the travails of WWII.
No one could have guessed at the time what an impact this innovative machine conceived by brilliant British engineer Alec Issigonis would have on the automotive world.
Only a handful of cars can truly claim to have changed motoring as we know it, but the BMC Mini being one. Over 5.3 million Minis were built between 1959 and 1999, with the original featuring a basic and functional interior, with seats trimmed in durable vinyl and a parcel shelf where the dash should be.
But the Mini’s genius was in its packaging, with its tiny exterior footprint shrouding a Tardis-like interior that could ‘comfortably’ accommodate four adults. No other small car design has utilised space more effectively.
Now, 66 years after the launch of what owner BMW prefers to call the “Classic Mini”, the Mini brand can look back on decades of racing success, visionary innovation, groundbreaking design – and unmistakable driving pleasure.
With its compact proportions, low overall height and relatively wide track, the original Mini handled superbly, even more so after joining forces in 1961 with racing car-maker Cooper, which begat the more capable and powerful Mini Cooper and Cooper S versions.
Today, John Cooper Works models remain the halo models in Mini’s expanded model range, underscoring the brand’s racing expertise, which includes a spectacular second place in its class at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
Alongside the Cooper Works variants, new generation Mini models include the Cooper, Countryman, and the new Aceman electric crossover.
It’s impossible to capture in one short story all the exploits of such a legendary car, about which entire books have been written, but for the benefit of Mini aficionados everywhere wanting to wish the “Brick” a happy birthday, here’s a brief timeline.
66 years of Mini milestones
1959
- The British Motor Corporation unveils the first Mini in history on August 26. The design is the brainchild of British engineer Alec Issigonis.
1961
- The first Mini Cooper is unveiled – at a price of £680.
1962
- Shortly after the Mini went into production, the British Motor Corporation was manufacturing 200,000 vehicles per year.
1963-64
- The first Mini Cooper S is unveiled.
1964
- Racing driver Paddy Hopkirk wins the Monte Carlo Rally in spectacular fashion in a Mini Cooper S.
1965
- Second consecutive victory at the Monte Carlo Rally for Mini with racing driver Timo Makinen at the wheel.
- Mini celebrates one million vehicles produced.
- The first automatic transmission in the Mini is available.
1967
- Mini wins the Monte Carlo Rally for the third time.
1972
- Mini celebrates three million vehicles produced.
1981
- Drop in production figures to 70,000 vehicles per year.
1990
- Under the leadership of the Rover brand, Mini presents a new generation of the Mini Cooper. Initially as a limited edition – later as a series model.
1992
- For the first time, the Mini is also available as a convertible.
1994
- The BMW Group acquires Rover – and with it, Mini. The acquisition lays the foundation for the MINI brand in its current form.
2001
- World premiere of the BMW Group’s first MINI.
- Start of MINI production at the Oxford plant (UK).
- The new generation of the MINI Cooper S is presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.
2002
- MINI reaches the milestone of 100,000 vehicles produced at its Oxford plant.
2004
- The MINI Cooper S Convertible is unveiled.
2007
- The MINI One and MINI Cooper D are unveiled.
- The first MINI Clubman celebrates its world premiere.
2010
- The first MINI Countryman is unveiled.
2014
- MINI presents the Cooper as a 5-door model for the first time.
2015
- MINI presents a new brand logo.
2016
- MINI reaches the milestone of 3,000,000 vehicles produced at its Oxford plant.
2020
- Production of fully electric series vehicles begins at the Oxford plant with the MINI Cooper SE.
2021
- New edition of the MINI 3-door, 5-door, and MINI Convertible.
2023
- The new MINI introduces a new generation of the MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman – both available as fully electric models.
2024
- The brand introduces a completely new model with the MINI Aceman – the first crossover model in the premium segment of the small car class, and all-electric variant.
- 2024 MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing celebrate class victory at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
- 2024 Presentation of the new MINI Cooper 5-door and the new MINI Convertible.
2025
- MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing celebrate second place in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
