A Brief History Of The Mini
The mini was a very iconic car during the 60’s and early selling strongly up to the early 21st century (2000) when production was finally ceased. It was then replaced by the new Cooper. The Mini had many names during its long history, and it was marketed under Austin and Morris until it became its own company in 1969. The first car was produced in 1959 by the British Motor Company (BMC) its engines ranged from 850cc to 1275cc during its later years.
The original car was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis who wanted to give the mini a great deal of room for passengers and luggage. To save space the mini was designed with a front wheel drive layout leaving up to 75-80 percent of the cars chassis to be used for passengers and luggage; even though the chassis was very small car there was a lot of space thanks to this layout. The car was assembled in factories in Longbridge and Cowley as well as being built worldwide in many other countries such as Belgium, Australia and Spain due to its popularity with the global public.
The Mini was put into production because of the fuel shortage that took place in 1956. This meant that the UK had to introduce a program of petrol rationing. During its lifetime the car received three main updates from its original car (the Mark 1). They were the mark 2, the clubman and the mark 3. It also received modifications that changed the exterior of the car. They included variants such as pickups and vans.
There was also the Mini Cooper S that was hailed as a sportier or “racier” version of the original; these were extremely successful in rally events and won the Monte Carlo rally three times. This was mainly due to great handling and low weight, the Cooper S weighing just 617kg to 686kg. They were also quite successful in other forms of racing winning GTC 65 championship races. Many celebrities such as Niki Lauda and Steve McQueen famously owned Mini’s.
The new version was introduced in 2001 taking the mantle from the old model when production ceased. BMW had bought the rights to the company and started production of the new model. Due to the new ownership the Mini corporation changed its name to BMW Mini. Currently there is only one model in the range, with some variants such as the clubman and convertible. Also in 2008 the next generation of minis came out with new stylish and sleek looks that people wanted this was called the Mark 2.
The mini has been at the centre of some criticism with hardcore enthusiasts saying that the car does not follow the trend or principles the original car set. They complained that the car was too big and there was less room inside. BMW hit back saying that they had increased the safety and crash protection making the passengers inside less susceptible to injury in the result of a crash. They also stated that they incorporated new features such as air conditioning and emissions control that had to increase the size of the car.
The two main versions sold in the UK of the new version are the standard Cooper and Cooper S. The standard Cooper features a 1.6L engine that produces 120hp and has a 0-62 mph time of 9.1 seconds. The faster version the cooper S has a supercharged (and now turbocharged, mark 2) 1.6L engine that produces 175hp with a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds and has an impressive top speed of 140 mph. From its humble beginnings the mini has become a modern, stylish and above all popular car.
Motoring expert Thomas Pretty looks into the history of the Mini from sixties icon to modern day styling.
Have A Classic Car To Relocate? 3 Tips That Will Save You Money
To some people a car is a car. You tend to forget sometimes that not everyone shares a love of cars like we do especially when it comes to classic or vintage cars. How can you really be sure that a company will take care of your car in the same manner as you would?
I have a few tips that you can look for that will help in the selection process and what to ask to ensure the protection level is a high priority with the transporting company you select that will save you money.
Again, you need to be very particular in a reliable company who will care for your classic or exotic car as though it were their own. Just shop around and compare services first to insure that you’re getting a competitive and fair rate. Don’t just jump to the first cheap quote you get because comparing is how you get the best deals to saving money. This is for your peace of mind for yourself and for extra protection for your car while traveling
Let’s be straight about something here, you have a very expensive car and you expect it to remain in that excellent condition as it did before you handed it over to strangers at an auto transporting Service Company. A few things can make all the difference between endings up with a car that you have to put money into repairing to just being able to drive away without any incidences.
1. You want to choose a company that current with technology and are well-equipped with equipment that is in tune with the latest a door-to-door satellite GPS tracking system so you know where your car is at all times. This way you always know where your car is traveling at all times.
2. Insurance. Make sure that the company you select has adequate insurance to cover any mishaps of your car while in transit. You can always get additional coverage if you feel that the minimum is too little of an amount. This is sometimes a better alternative when it comes to those really expensive and irreplaceable exotic or classic cars.
3. The transporter company you choose should have a well-developed and reliable network of offices throughout the country and world and you would think that when it comes to professional car transporters, especially exotic or classic, that the crew would use the most caution, consideration and carefulness when it comes to these types prized vehicles. The reality is because their so expensive and costly to repair.
To sum things up, you just need to be careful on who you select. You need to be very particular in a reliable company who will care for your classic or exotic car as though it were their own.
It seems like these days smaller groups of companies are forming in the industry who hire people who are skilled in the handling of specialty cars so you might keep that as an option. I’m sure you’ll pay more for the service but you know what they say, you get what you pay for.
Here at Damovers you can locate and compare multiple Auto Shipping Quotes from several shipping companies at one time. Always compare rates and services first for Auto
Transporting companies. Get tips for finding a great Auto Transporting Service company that will care for your car as much as you do.
Protect Your Classic Car with Suitable Classic Car Insurance
For many people, classic cars top the list of desirable transportation due to the styling and character that you just don’t find in today’s vehicles. Classic cars are often a huge object of pride for the owner, and a huge object of desire for would-be car thieves. Maintaining a classic car is no easy task and with the world turning more unpredictable by the day, it makes good sense indeed to protect your much-loved car with classic car insurance. These insurance plans provide an umbrella of coverage for your classic car and aid you in proper hassle-free running of your much-loved classic car.
Before explore classic car insurance in depth, let us understand what exactly constitutes a classic car and how it is different from a vintage car. A classic automobile is usually defined by its age with the minimum cap of 15 years. However, the accepted age for a classic car varies from twenty to forty years while vintage cars are those cars which are at least 60 years old at the time of insurance.
Maintaining a classic car is no piece of cake and often requires a lot of repairs and money before it can strut its stuff out on the roads. With so much put on the line, investing in a classic car insurance policy is a must. Regardless of the age of your classic vehicle, most car insurance companies require certain prerequisites to be fulfilled before you can avail a cheap classic car insurance quote.
One of the major requirements is that the vehicle should be in good or at least restored condition and should be kept in a fully enclosed facility. Furthermore, the driver should not be younger than 19 years old and the vehicle itself should be used primarily for exhibitions and club activities. Although an occasional drive here and there is permitted, most car insurance companies make sure that the car is not used primary means of transport.
Collector auto insurance is generally inexpensive owing to the fact that the car is to be used sparingly. However, the coverage offered is very car-specific and is highly dependent on the company and state policies. Some of the primary options available include garaging location, spare part replacement, comprehensive classic car insurance, and value coverage which reimburses the amount equivalent to the vehicle’s true market value.
One aspect that should be kept in mind when purchasing a classic car insurance policy is that most companies keep tabs on the total number of miles that you travel. This may vary from state to state but generally ranges from 1000 to about 5000 miles per year.
Keeping in mind the time and expense associated with having a collector car, a classic car insurance policy is probably just as important as any other aspect of owning such a vehicle. Since most classic car insurance coverage is relatively cheap and is highly specific, special care should be taken to obtain insurance quotes that fit your unique situation and classic car.
For more information about low cost auto insurance options, including New York car insurance, be sure to visit http://www.lowcostautoinsuranceinfo.com today.