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 Purple Mountains Fall Foilage Mini Mural Landscape 7x5 Original Oil Painting Art $19.99 End Date: Saturday Jun-16-2012 18:15:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Artist carved wood miniature APPLE WORM original dollhouse micro mini toy OOAK $57.99 (6 Bids) End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:04:59 PDT |
 Aceo Original KITTYs journey mini watercolor $1.56 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 2:26:20 PDT |
 DOGGY CAT FRIENDS BUTTERFLY ROSE PETS SASHO ART ORIGINAL MINI DRAWING 3x45 $31.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Monday May-21-2012 12:05:21 PDT |
 2 Framed Mini Floral Natural Flower Collage original flowers butterflies St L $10.00 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 13:40:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Abstract Original one of a kind Mini Painting in Recyled Wood Picture Frame $19.99 End Date: Sunday May-20-2012 16:54:40 PDT |
 Happy Caterpillar in Strawberry Patch 4x5 Mini Original Painting $4.99 End Date: Sunday May-20-2012 16:06:58 PDT |
 2 ORIGINAL IMPRESSIONIST Verna Kolarik Mini Oil Canvas Watermill and Still Life $24.00 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 19:28:15 PDT |
 Original Pastel paintings by Mabel C Hyde whose Brush Name is Mimi Joy $45.00 End Date: Friday Jun-8-2012 15:02:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: $45.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paint Horse ORIGINAL Aceo Art Watercolor Landscape Painting Mini $9.99 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 9:59:45 PDT |
 ORIGINAL Mini Art Painting Black Cats Rabbit Bunny Flowers Pine Tree ACEO Sparky $0.11 (2 Bids) End Date: Monday May-21-2012 21:53:33 PDT |
 Original Lotus Flower Mini Painting by Dia EBSQ $9.95 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 6:34:41 PDT |
 SANDIE COE Original Miniature Oil Painting ACEO art mini sfaTEXAS BLUEBONNETS $31.61 End Date: Thursday Jun-14-2012 7:40:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $31.61 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Original Mini Shaggy Puppy Painting by Dia EBSQ $9.95 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 6:34:41 PDT |
 ACEO ORIGINAL KITTY has seapaws little boatmini watercolor $1.56 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 0:24:11 PDT |
 Original Mini Butterfly and Daisy Painting by Dia EBSQ $9.95 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 6:34:41 PDT |
 EGRET IN MARSH Aceo Wildlife painting mini Original Art acrylic Jim Smeltz $15.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-13-2012 17:00:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: $15.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Horse Original Aceo Art Watercolor Landscape Painting Mini $25.49 (3 Bids) End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 10:05:08 PDT |
 Wild Horses ORIGINAL ACEO Art Watercolor Portrait Mini $36.00 (4 Bids) End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 12:54:49 PDT |
 1957 Rare Original Mini Litho Print Of Painting Ship Sailing in Twilight $7.89 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 2:08:22 PDT |
 WILD FLOWERS Original Abstract Modern Impressionist Floral Oil MINI Painting $40.50 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 19:56:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: $40.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 1957 Rare Original Mini Litho Print Of Painting Ship Sailing in Twilight $7.89 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 2:08:33 PDT |
 ACEO Mini Art Original Yellow Cat $3.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 16:17:56 PDT |
 Horse ORIGINAL ACEO ART Watercolor Painting Portrait Mini $10.49 (2 Bids) End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 9:53:20 PDT |
 SANDIE COE Original Miniature Oil Painting ACEO art mini sfa RED POPPIES $31.61 End Date: Thursday Jun-14-2012 7:37:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: $31.61 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 1957 Rare Original Mini Litho Print Of Painting Ship Sailing in Twilight $7.89 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 2:06:27 PDT |
 ACEO rabbit bunny hare cute grey original mini collage painting art signed ATC $21.50 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:00:25 PDT |
 ACEO tuxedo tabby CAT green eye original mini fabric art fiber artist tiny quilt $21.50 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:03:22 PDT |
 GUS FINK outsider ORIGINAL lowbrow brut ooak modern pop kid MINI BLUE ROBOT $139.00 End Date: Friday Jun-15-2012 15:13:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: $139.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Original ACEO painting Tabby Cat Katze Miniature Mini Art Atc chat kitten by AF $12.65 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 10:10:49 PDT |
 GIFT Custom Original MINI PORTRAIT from photo drawing sketch color drawing 4x6 $13.00 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 9:40:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: $15.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Original ACEO painting CATNAP Cat Katze Miniature Mini Art ATC chat kitten by AF $13.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 10:20:53 PDT |
 Autumn Sunset by Helen Emery Original Oil Mini $75.00 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 14:09:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: $75.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Brahman Bull ORIGINAL ACEO ART Watercolor Cattle Mini $9.99 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 13:00:00 PDT |
 Original Painting Acrylic on Mini Canvas $0.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 9:32:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Aceo Original Painting Feeding Time bird nest baby tree sky worm Mini Muse Art $9.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 16:46:55 PDT |
 ORIGINAL BMW MINI EVEL KNIEVEL POSTCARD Evil Car 4x6 $5.99 End Date: Friday Jun-15-2012 9:39:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Original Aceo Painting Black Cat Katze Miniature Mini Art ATC chat kitten by AF $13.00 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 10:15:04 PDT |
 TAMBRA Mini GHOST Black Cat Halloween 1x1 Original Painting $1.50 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 18:51:14 PDT |
 Abstract Original one of a kind Mini Painting in Recyled Wood Picture Frame $19.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 6:38:45 PDT |
 ORIGINAL Green BUDGIE PARAKEET ACEO PAINTING Parrot Kasheta mini ART $12.00 End Date: Thursday Jun-7-2012 2:40:33 PDT Buy It Now for only: $12.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 ACEO Mini Art Original The Notes are Few $0.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 16:29:07 PDT |
 ACEO Mini Art Original Times Golden Clime $3.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 17:00:06 PDT |
 TAMBRA Mini Black Tuxedo CAT Balloons 1x1 Original Painting $1.50 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 18:51:35 PDT |
 OLIVER ROOSTER fowl mini 5x4 original chicken art acrylic painting Jim Smeltz $20.00 End Date: Monday Jun-11-2012 21:04:30 PDT Buy It Now for only: $20.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 ACEO Original PJR Mini Art flowers Butterfly Busy Day in the Garden $0.99 End Date: Sunday May-20-2012 16:49:32 PDT |
 Lot of 3 Vintage Antique Old Unknown Artist Original Mini Miniature Oil Painting $34.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 18:08:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $55.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Lot of 2 Vintage Antique Old Unknown Artist Original Mini Miniature Oil Painting $19.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 18:08:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $39.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Angel Gray Clouds Light Rays Original 5x5 Square Mini Small Painting Picture $39.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 7:31:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Original Art Aceo Outsider Art Folk Art Mini small City Cityscape landscape $4.22 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 19:55:35 PDT |
 Abstract Original one of a kind Mini Painting in Recyled Wood Picture Frame $19.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 6:38:08 PDT |
 Original Oil Painting Still Life Mini Blossoms Flowers in Antique Vase $24.99 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 19:38:49 PDT |
 Pauline Whiteley Original Mini Painting ANN HATHAWAYS COTTAGE Wood Frame Rare $29.95 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 12:27:34 PDT Buy It Now for only: $29.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 ACEO Original Ooak Tin Types historical mini art drawing SFA ATC JD Clifford $9.99 End Date: Sunday May-20-2012 20:00:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: $15.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Horse ORIGINAL ACEO ART Watercolor Portrait Tack Mini $9.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 13:14:17 PDT |
 ACEO Calico tabby Cat Original mini quilt fabric art ornament by textile artist $14.98 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 19:49:13 PDT |
 ORIGINAL ACEO STINGRAY PAINTING Ocean Reef Fish Wildlife Kasheta mini ART $12.00 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 6:05:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $12.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Original Art ACEO City Red Yellow Blue Abstract gouache small mini outsider art $4.22 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 20:08:26 PDT |
 ACEO TREE IN MOONLIGHT original mini landscape Miniature Painting Jim Smeltz $4.99 End Date: Monday May-21-2012 20:52:17 PDT |
 Original Watercolor by Francine Porad titled Mini Floral 6 $25.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 6:44:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: $45.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
Mini - the classic British car by Harrison Royce
Now owned by BMW this classic British marque celebrates its 50th anniversary this year (2009). An iconic fashion statement since the 1960's, it was the car that defined the "supermini" of today. With its transversely mounted engine, front wheel drive and a host of novel technical innovations it elegantly set the standards by which all small cars would be judged and became a symbol of the 'swinging sixties'.
In 1956 a political error had caused a crisis in Suez in the Middle East leading to a fuel shortage. Britain was once again rationing petrol, sales of large cars had slumped and the market for German "Bubble cars" (see side panel) was booming.
Born of this necessity the head of BMC, Leonard Lord, decreed: 'God damn these bloody awful Bubble Cars. We must drive them off the road by designing a proper miniature car'. The design brief was simple: the car should be contained within a box that measured 10 × 4 × 4 feet (3 × 1.2 × 1.2 m); the passenger accommodation should occupy 1.8 m of the 3 m length; the engine, for reasons of cost, should be an existing unit,
Sir Alec Issigonis was commissioned to carry out the task and by October 1957 he and his team had designed and built the first prototype using a conventional BMC A-series four-cylinder water-cooled engine. However breaking with tradition Issigonis mounted the engine transversly (sideways), took the drive to the front wheels and lubricated the four speed gearbox with engine oil and placed it in the sump. This ground breaking configuration has been used by almost every small front wheel drive car developed since.
The suspension replaced conventional metal springs with compact rubber cones developed by Dr. Alex Moulton and the wheels were 'pushed out' to the corners of the car. Although this resulted in a somewhat raw and bumpy ride, it gave the Mini its famous go kart-like handling. The wheels too were unconventional specified at 10 inches (254mm) and new tyres had to be commissioned, initially fron Dunlop. Sliding windows allowed for storage space in the doors and the boot lid was designed with hinges at the bottom so that it could be left open to increase luggage space, To reduce production costs the monocoque shell was welded on the outside with the seams visible as were the externally mounted door and boot hinges. All these inovations served to reduce the dimensions of the vehicle whilst maximising passenger and luggage space.
Through its production history the original mini saw many guises including the Mini Cooper in 1961 and the Mini Cooper S in 1963 which coupled increased power output with that "go-kart like" handling and resulted in a speight of successes on the track and rally circuits.
The Mini has won many awards over the years, perhaps the most notable include: "Car of the Century" (Autocar magazine 1995), "Number One Classic Car of All Time" (Classic & Sports Car magazine 1996) and "European Car of the Century" in a worldwide internet poll run by the prestigious Global Automotive Elections Foundation in 1999. The Mini managed second place (behind the Model T Ford) for "Global Car of the Century" in that same poll.
In the end 5.3 million Minis were sold, making it by far the most popular British car ever made. Thousands of these are still on the road, with the remaining pre-1980s versions being firmly established as collectors' items.
About the Author
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El original mini recital.wmv
