You can check the below link: http://www.google.tt/search?q=History+of+Mini+Cooper&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a Or you can read below: The Mini Evolution The little car that can The new MINI has grabbed attention all over the world for its clever styling, excellent handling and reasonable ergonomics for such a small car. All of which sounds familiar to longtime fans who remember the debut of the original Mini 45 years ago. Despite the change in capitalization, the two cars share a lot in common. The first Mini was sold in 1959, and if you think the new MINI stands out from the crowd now, imagine how different it must have been back then. Fashion designer Mary Quant was so taken with the new car that she was inspired to create the Mini Skirt (yes, really). Small cars were nothing new in the late 1950s. After WWII, gas was in short supply in Europe, and many manufacturers came out with "microcars" based on tiny motorcycle-sized engines. They achieved outstanding mileage at the expense of pretty much everything else. Most were cramped, stark little tin boxes that turned into portable saunas in summer and refrigerators in winter. They were noisy enough to dull your hearing and so slow they were easy prey for marauding Mopeds. The Mini was designed to take them on in the marketplace. Alec Issigonis was a certified engineering genius with a dour disposition and a passion for finding new ways to do things. He had previously designed the Morris Minor, a sales success for British Motor Corporation (BMC), the company that made Morris, Austin, Austin-Healey, MG and several other minor marques in England. His new design was intended to be more comfortable and practical than the microcars, but by the time it came out they were already starting to be replaced in the English market by small sedans from Ford of England, Renault, Volkswagen and Fiat. The Mini would have to take on much better engineered foes than the primitive microcars had been. In order to keep the car as short as possible, Issigonis opted to turn the engine sideways, stuff the gearbox underneath and drive the front wheels. This approach was unusual at the time, but has since become the most common configuration for small cars. The unibody was very strong, and steel subframes at the front and rear carried the running gear and suspension. The fully independent suspension had rubber donuts in place of springs, and the tiny drum brakes rode inside 10-inch diameter wheels. The Mini weighed only 1,300 pounds, which contributed to its excellent gas mileage. Although it looked tiny (and at ten feet long it was tiny), the interior was surprisingly roomy, with plenty of space for six footers in front. The small grille across the front had a permanent frown, but the overall effect was cute and personable. Like the VW before it, the Mini was about to become a "cult car." The first models on the market were called Austin Sevens, followed by a Morris version, the Mini Minor. Soon all models were simply called Minis. In a brilliant marketing ploy, BMC put new Minis in the hands of models, actors and other personalities who cruised the trendy London nightspots where they were sure to attract attention. Soon the Mini became the "in" car for getting around crowded cities with limited parking. Minis were bought by members of the Beatles, Peter Sellers, Peter Ustinov, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Princess Margaret and model Twiggy. Fashion designer Mary Quant was so taken with the new car that she was inspired to create the Mini Skirt (yes, really). Soon other Mini models were offered. There was a panel truck, a "Woodie" van called the Traveler, a Mini-pickup truck and a Jeep-like vehicle called the Mini Moke. The Mini quickly established a reputation as an affordable, frugal and practical transportation device, but then someone decided to put his foot down—on the gas pedal! Born to Race Much to everyone's surprise (especially Issigonis) the Mini turned out to be fast. With only 34 hp, the standard 850cc engine was no barnburner, but it was easily and cheaply modified with parts from the Austin-Healey and MG lines. Then an early Mini was turned over to John Cooper, whose Cooper Car Company had recently taken Formula 1 by storm with tiny mid-engine racers. Cooper designed an improved 997cc engine, an easier-to-shift transmission and tiny disc brakes to go on the nose. The Mini Cooper was introduced in 1961 to rave reviews, and overnight the only sedans capable of keeping up with them were the hot Fiat Abarths from Italy. In 1963 an even more sinister version, the Mini Cooper S, was sprung on unsuspecting roads and racetracks. The Cooper S had better disc brakes and a more muscular 1071cc engine (later also offered in 970cc and 1275cc form). With this powerhouse (70 hp stock), the Mini began playing Jack-the-giant-killer at tracks around the world, frequently power sliding past muscular Jaguar sedans and high-tech Lotus-Cortinas in tight corners. The Mini was the original compact tuner car, with dozens of companies making hop-up and customizing parts for the cheeky little ego-buster. The crowning touch for the Mini Coopers was winning the tough Monte Carlo Rally three times, outgunning factory-sponsored V-8 Ford Falcons and full-race Porsche 904s. In America the Mini has dominated small sedan racing in the 1300cc class right up until today. Sales Success The Mini continued to sell well in England, where it eventually racked up 5,387,862 models sold. Fancied-up Mini variants (with added-on trunks and old-fashioned grills) were sold by Wolseley and Riley. In 1968, BMC merged with Leyland to form British Leyland (BL), and the new company made Mini a brand, eliminating the Austin, Morris and other prefixes. Despite frequent efforts to modernize it (most of which failed) the Mini never strayed too far from its original concept. Even with the huge numbers of Minis sold, BL could have served as a business-school textbook case on how not to run a car company. Overall, the company hemorrhaged red ink as management fought with labor, dropped popular models and searched for ways to avoid replacing aging designs. The Cooper models were the first to go (1971), although the Italian company Innocenti briefly built them. As it could not be made to meet American crash standards, the Mini was not imported to the U.S. after 1967. The original Mini was eventually discontinued in 2000 after 41 years of production. New Lease on Life In 1995 BMW bought the Rover Group (Rover and Mini), intending to use the Range Rover as the basis for a new SUV. They also appreciated having the Mini marque, but realized it was time for a new model. A design team was formed and the first prototype of the MINI (note, all capitals), styled by American Frank Stephenson, hit the car show circuits in 1997. The MINI team had done its job. Although larger and heavier than the originals, the MINI was still tiny by modern standards, and maintained the efficient space utilization and surprising performance of the originals. The MINI Cooper is powered by a 1598 cc, 115 hp 4-cylinder engine, while the supercharged Cooper S features 163 hp allied with a 6-speed gearbox. Once again, sales have been phenomenal, with demand outstripping production as the British MINI plant works feverishly to catch up. The MINI is a worthy successor to the Mini, for which crazed fans of tiny, insanely fast cars can be thankful. The Mini Moke was conceived as a military vehicle, but sold as a fun utility car.