| The Venerable Austin Mini Auto |
| Invention Development Advice - Marketing | |||
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Think of the "Mod 1960's" - Carnaby Street , Apple Records with the Beatles et al and most likely you will picture that cute little , or almost ugly "Austin Mini" motor-car vehicle. No doubt about it - the marvelous Mini set the stage for the worldwide acceptance of small front wheel drive , transversely laid out engines front wheel drive automotive car engine designs that we take for granted on our roads and highways today.
Think of the "Mod 1960's" - Carnaby Street , Apple Records with the Beatles et al and most likely you will picture that cute little , or almost ugly "Austin Mini" motor-car vehicle. No doubt about it - the marvelous Mini set the stage for the worldwide acceptance of small front wheel drive , transversely laid out engines front wheel drive automotive car engine designs that we take for granted on our roads and highways today. Yet the tiny and almost puny Austin Mini with its small in relation 4 banger engine won the famed Monte Carlo Rally three times running - in the years races of 1964, 1965 and lastly in 1967. Quite a feat for such a diminutive and scaled down automotive product of its time. On top of that the fourth victory was snatched from the mouth's of the Austin clan only by a small infraction on the roadway. Initially the car was released in two almost identical variations - an Austin badged product , and an identical product introduced into the marketplace as a "Mini Minor". It seems that the two products were produced at two different factories and divisions in the U.K. - the Austin and Morris automotive factories. Part of this decision were production allotments - some centered on consumer marketing preferences. Just as in Canada and in the US where similar products from different automotive divisions of the same manufacturers had downright die hard fans and loyalists. In the same way that some auto buyers and consumers were die-hard Ford or Mercury "men", while others preferred similar Pontiac products over Chevy branded autos - auto enthusiasts might swear by their nearly identical Austin Se7en's or Morris Mini-Minors. Yet this little mutant of a car not only had a low cost and external size, it held an innovative design that even though tiny in size it could seat 4 adults and perhaps 5. The secret was an adoption of front wheel drive with a transversely mounted engine and transmission. Now held as the standard, at that point in automobile history most autos were "rear wheel driven" with a large drive train running down the middle of the floor of the vehicle taking up passenger space and adding weight. Rear engine vehicles are simpler to build and maintain and less expensive to design, engineer and install at the factory level. Yet the heavy drive train not only adds weight to the vehicle, requiring a larger and heavier engine, it also takes away from interior passenger space. So the innovative design of the Austin Mini had great merit in allowing for a smaller vehicle, with a smaller engine that had a reasonable interior seating space, and had reasonable pickup all with less cost, and overall auto owner and motorist's driving costs and budget. Yet the Mini suffered a host of problems - especially in the "export market". These were problems, errors and mistakes that the Japanese auto industry , could later use to good lesson , when it came time for them to enter the American auto market - ultimately very successfully. One was that the auto seemed to be designed for the British market, geography, driving conditions and climate. True the Mini was fun to drive , could pack in passengers , luggage and groceries in a small space. Yet it was underpowered when it came to the growing American highway system and daily commutes. In addition the cooling system seemed to be developed for more temperate climes. Austin car owners and their passengers often sweltered in a hot American summer , while freezing with an inadequate heating system come cold Canadian winters. The car seemed to have devised and developed for British temperate climate and small scale higher speeds. In addition parts availability for repairs , as well as trained mechanics, other than at higher priced British car dealerships seem to scare away more than one potential auto customer - or one looking to finance their new or used vehicle. More information: Derrick Dodge - Fort McMurray Alberta Canada Alberta Canada Largest Dodge Chrysler Dealer Fort McMurray Alberta Canada Auto Fill Out an Online Fill Out a Confidential Online Credit Application Today Appliation Today
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