1959Reputable sourceWell documented
The Mini
On the timeline · around 1959 ·
What happened
Launched in 1959 and designed by Alec Issigonis, the Mini was the first car to combine a transverse (sideways-mounted) engine with front-wheel drive in a tiny package, freeing up almost the entire body for passengers. Cheap and endlessly practical, over five million were built before production ended in 2000 — the best-selling British car ever.
Why it matters
The Mini's space-saving layout — engine across the front, driving the front wheels — became the template that most small cars in the world still follow today. It also became a 1960s cultural icon.
Sources
- National Motor Museum. Austin Mini Seven · Reputable source