Austin Seven / Austin Mini

The Austin Seven developed by Alec Issigonis was launched in the public arena in 1959. The "Mini" was fitted with an engine mounted transversely in the front and front-wheel drive and embodied an innovative concept for a small car. It delivered a four-seater saloon with optimum use of space and offered agile and safe performance, making it a pleasure to drive. The Austin Mini 850, as it was called from 1962, was a hit with lots of inventive solutions in the detail. It was quite rightly hailed as a milestone on the way to the modern small car.