Description
Author: Rob Golding, Hardbound, 223 Pages, ISBN: 9780850455991, This new edition Published in 1984 - Second Hand book in good order !
The Mini lives on. Twenty-five years of production is no mean feat. This second edition of Mini celebrates its birthday and expands'its fascinating story further. Much of what we said about the first edition still rings true. Here's what needs to be said today; the Mini was created by the inspiration of one man with as fluid an imagination as Leonardo da Vinci.
For a year, the little car hovered on the brink of disaster. But slowly it gathered momentum to sweep all before it on its rise to race and rally champion, creating in its wake a new breed of hero. Close to five million Minis have been built by the once strife-torn company, but it is doubtful that all the cars ever made a real profit.
The simplicity of its transverse engine with front-wheel-drive made it suitable as a power pack for all sorts of special vehicles, not only factory produced vans, pick-ups and Mokes, but also glass fibre sports cars, like the pretty Unipower. The rest of the world's motor industries have copied its mechanical layout for a new generation of hatchback family cars.
The Mini spawned a whole 'life style' both for the user and the motor industry. Such was its strength that it fended off its rivals around the world. Even with the introduction of the Metro, it survived as a viable small car choice.
In twenty-five years, the Mini has passed more milestones than any other car.
Rob Golding gives you not just a straight technical history but a new approach to the world of the Mini, our best loved car. Golding is above all entertaining; his is a story carrying unique insight, and is compelling reading for anyone whose life has been touched by the little car.
About the author
For nearly fifteen years Rob Golding's job has bought him into contact with the Mini and the people who have helped to build the legend. In 1970 he became motoring correspondent of The Birmingham Post and made a close study of the car as a local product and of its success in racing and rallying.
Within a few years he had become industrial editor of that newspaper and was equally interested in the business contribution that the Mini made to BL. Now he is editor of The Engineer magazine and is able to take an expert interest in the technology of the car and the tools that built it at Longbridge.
In 1978, he was asked to write this book and revelled in the research. Every new contact he made in tracking the history of the car was bursting with enthusiasm to help. That is a measure of the affection that the little machine kindled in the company, in the sporting fraternity and among the motoring public.
What the press had to say of the first edition...
The story has been told by Rob Golding... She...very entertaining new book. . . Country Life Anyone who has owned and loved a Mini will
find the book fascinating ...very informative...Autocar
This authoritative hardback celebrates twenty years of the Mini. . .Mayfair
The pictures make the book ... the text tells all ...Motor Sport... revealed in a new book on the history of the little car. Daily Express
Author Rob Golding has done a thorough research job. Sunday Telegraph
