![]() ![]() Various oil companies spent a lot of time researching new blends of oil that would satisfy BMC, and so would be approved when the car was released to the buying public. So changes had to be made to the design of the gearbox and differential, so they could be lubricated with the engine oil. Gearbox lubrication has to cope with the extreme loads when the gears are meshing, also in the FWD layout we have a differential. In the engine it has to lubricate as well as coping with the products of combustion, and the higher temperatures. Now it must be remembered that the oil in an engine and gearbox have to cope with different conditions. This arrangement would give the best possible package, but it meant that the engine oil would have to also lubricate the gearbox. The next problem was where to locate the gearbox, after much thought he decided to place the gearbox in the sump. With the engine rotated ninety degrees to give the famous East/West layout, the length of the bonnet could be greatly reduced. Issi, as everybody called him, was convinced that the way to go, was to produce a small car with front wheel drive (FWD), this allowed the centre section of the floor pan to be reduced in height as it would only have to accommodate the exhaust system. So the brief to Issigonis was to produce a car that would be compact, seat four people in comfort, be easy to drive and economical. These were noisy and did not give a very good ride. The only cars that were very economical at the time were Bubble cars that used motorcycle engines, but could only seat two. This restricted the motorist to about four gallons a month, so more economical cars soon became popular. It was not long before petrol rationing took place and the issuing of petrol coupons. The government decided to send troops to the area. This would have the effect of reducing oil supplies to the UK. In September 1956 Colonel Nasser of Egypt decided to nationalise the Suez Canal. Having been at Alvis for nearly four years, Issigonis had an invitation from Leonard Lord to come to Longbridge and join the BMC design team. In the end Alvis management decided to cancel the project on the grounds of cost. In 1952 when Austin took over Morris Motors and the British Motor Corporation was formed, Alec Issigonis decided to leave and take up a post with Alvis at Coventry, to design a new sports car from scratch. Morris management gave backing to his thinking and the end result was the Morris Minor. Issigonis felt that the way to go was to produce small cars for the masses. Motor manufacturers after the war decided to work on bringing out mainly medium/large range of cars. During wartime Alec Issigonis worked at Morris Motors on many products to help the war effort. How was the Mini conceived and what was the catalyst that made it happen.Īfter WWII it took several years for factories to resume making peacetime products. The Austin Mini was actually called the Austin Seven when it came out. ![]() Read how ex-apprentices fought hard to extend the production life of the Mini and how production of this iconic car's body shells still continues today.Īpprox size: A4. Readers can expect tales of testing and development, Press launches, Minis in competition and even engineering changes spanning 41 years of production. Celebrating 60 years of the Classic Mini, this limited edition 36-page colour booklet is packed full of 'insider' stories from past Austin Apprentices about Minis and Mini Mokes. ![]()
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