Mini was an epoch-making compact car which arrived to market in 1959.
The East-West engine layout and FWD became the world standard over 20 years later.
BMC was a company Austin group and Nuffield group joined together in 1952. Due to the merger, BMC carried Austin, Vanden-Plas, Morris, MG, Wolseley and Riley.
Basic brand Austin and Morris sold Mini and more upper grade Wolseley and Riley sold one with extended trunk called Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet.
Due to the brand management, they were not only longer trunk like VW Golf and Jetta.
They had more luxurious interior and also had hydrolatic suspensions which was unique design of BMC.
Although Mini was made until year 2000, this big brother retired 1969, which was also the last season of Riley.
A year before,BMC merged with Leyland group and they ended up with managing 15 brands in a company.
Even before the merger, most of the brands were struggling to survive and the merger which was led by Government did not improve their situation.
That was how, Mini missed a chance to update.I would say 1969 when Elf retired was about time those cars were supposed to be withdrawn.
It has been already over 40 years and today, it is very hard to see one of those even in New Zealand which is almost like museum of old British cars.
After the WW2, there were famous compact cars like VW Beetle, Citroen 2CV or Mini…..there is something in common.
All of them failed to go through model change and ended up with such a long life span.
Now, those cars look charming…..but at least in 70s, those just looked aged…….
Today, BMW which is ex-owner of Rover-group still have right of Riley brand although the company was sold to China.
It has been over a decade since New Mini was produced by BMW. Perhaps, they could make Riley Elf based on New Mini with extended rear…
Westcoast Auto Design Studio 