Mini Mk2-Mk5 (1967 – 1992) Review

June 1969

2,000,000th Mini was built

The two millionth Mini rolled off the production line at Longbridge, the first British car to attain this mark.

October 1969

Production of the Mk3 Mini and Clubman began

With the Mk3 Mini, there seems to have been a conscious effort to reduce the cost of manufacture. Out went Hydrolastic suspension, and a reversion to the rubber cones of 1959-1964. Also gone from the Mini was some of the chrome brightwork, such as upper doortrims and the bumper overriders. Eliminating time consuming activities such as this in the factory seems to have had some effect, as the Mk3s were produced in greater numbers – with the best year being 1971 when 318,475 left Longbridge and overseas plants.

Although the Mk3 was announced in October 1969, the only cars to have escape Longbridge before 1970 were for press use only; for the last Austin and Morris Mini Mk2s weren’t manufactured until December 1969 – and the last Mk2 Cooper S was completed on the 23 February 1970.

October 1972

3,000,000th Mini was built

At the London Motor Show, British Leyland celebrated the production of three million Minis. Lord Stokes as always had a comment for the gentlemen of the press: ‘Looking around the show you can see foreign manufacturers have copied our small car design. It won’t take us 13 years to build the next three million — as we fully intend to do.’

August 1979

Mini 1100 Special launched

The 1100 Special was built to celebrate the 20th birthday of the Mini. It was fitted with a 1098cc Clubman engine, additional equipment, alloy wheels and a choice of metallic silver or brown paintwork. It was the first factory built special edition.

August 1980

Mini range rationalised

In preparation for the launch of the Metro, Austin-Morris began to thin out the Mini range: the Clubman saloon and 1275GT were phased out; the Clubman Estate carried on, now with a 998cc engine and renamed Mini 1000 HL Estate; also ceasing production that month was the Mini City/850, which was replaced by a new Mini City with a 998cc A-Plus engine, as would be found in the Metro.

By the end of 1980, total Mini production had reached 4,749,816. Total Mini production for 1980 was 150,067.

February 1982

The last Mini estate HL bodyshell was produced

Although the model would not officially be withdrawn from sale until September 1982. In April 1982 the Mini was given higher gearing to make it more economical, but this did nothing for acceleration, and the car lost a little of its buzzbox characteristics. The fact that the ancient A-Series engine could cope with up-gearing was a tribute to its remarkable torque characteristics, even in its tamest form.

June 1984

Mini wheel size increased to 12-inch to accommodate bigger brakes

February 1987

Plans to cease Mini production were cancelled

The Mini has won a reprieve — due to the abiding love of women drivers. It was due to be scrapped next month after 27 years. But market research has shown that women are still clamouring for the snappy little vehicle. So much so, that Minis will roll off the production line until at least 1991 and weekly output rose from 650 a week to 750.