The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 to 2000. The most popular British-made car of all time, it has since been replaced by the New MINI which was launched in 2001. The original is considered an icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers. In an internet poll for "Global Car of the Century" the Mini came second after the Model T Ford. This revolutionary and distinctive two-door car was designed for BMC by Sir Alec Issigonis (1906–88). It was manufactured at the Longbridge and Cowley plants in the United Kingdom, and later in Australia, Belgium, Chile, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Mini Mk I had three major updates: The Mk II, the Clubman, and the Mk III, within which were a series of variations including an estate car, a pickup truck, a van, and the Mini Moke - a jeep-like buggy. The Mini Cooper and Cooper "S" were sportier versions that were successful as rally cars - winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1770: James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour made their first landfall on Australia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Bark_Endeavour)

1862: Union forces under David Farragut captured New Orleans, securing access into the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Farragut)

1882: Ernst Werner von Siemens began operating his "Elektromote", the world's first trolleybus. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/trolleybus)

1945: Adolf Hitler dictated his last will and testament to his secretary in the Führerbunker, and then married Eva Braun in a brief ceremony. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_will_and_testament_of_Adolf_Hitler)

1992: The acquittal of policemen who had beaten Rodney King sparked civil unrest in Los Angeles. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"Despite the best that has been done by everyone - the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people - the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest." -- Hirohito (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hirohito)