Mini 1959-2000
Published on 15. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
96 pages
978-1-3981-2471-4 (ISBN)
Description
When it was launched in 1959, the Mini stunned the world with its ingenious compact design. In this book, Mini expert and fan Peter Barker gives the full account of the classic Mini through the decades, from the 1950s to the millennium. Drawing on interviews with the original designers and engineers, he provides the inside story of how the Mini was developed. From the 1960s when the Mini became a cultural icon, boosted by its starring role in the film The Italian Job, through the sensible 70s, when the Mk 3 was launched as well as the Mini Clubman and 1275 GT, to the 80s and 90s, with the launch of the Mk 4, when the Mini was still a cool choice as well as an economic one. After the millennium, the classic Mini's spirit would live on in the all-new BMW MINI.
Featuring unique contemporary material and accompanied by both archive photography and images from the author's own forty-year collection, this book is an essential and fitting tribute to one of Britain's most famous and best-loved cars.
Featuring unique contemporary material and accompanied by both archive photography and images from the author's own forty-year collection, this book is an essential and fitting tribute to one of Britain's most famous and best-loved cars.
Reviews / Votes
'Densely packed with archive photography and interviews with the Mini's original designers and engineers, the full story of the classic Mini is told from its development to cultural significance and legacy. Very informative. A must-read.' * Practical Classics Magazine, May 2026 * 'Like the cars themselves, this introduction to the range is a little gem.' * Best of British Magazine, May 2026 * 'The author draws on interviews with the original designers and engineers and he tells the inside story on how the Mini was developed and how it became a cultural icon helped by its starring role in The Italian Job. A great little book.' * Track Kit Classic Magazine, May/ June 2026 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chalford
United Kingdom
Illustrations
100 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
308 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3981-2471-4 (9781398124714)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Peter Barker is a specialist journalist and writer with forty years of experience of owning, driving, rallying and writing about Mini Coopers. An editorial contributor to MiniWorld magazine for fifteen years, original member of the Mini Cooper Register and contributor to the MCR club magazine since 1990, Peter has written more words about the Mini Cooper than he can remember.