Pardon me, make that Sir Alec Issigonis. Just a few YouTube vids w/ the original designer. I REALLY wish they hadn't cut off the second vid where they did but I guess the guy is trying to sell full DVDs (seen in comments if you make the jump to YouTube). [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbdaXUh9rbc]YouTube - Alec Issigonis and the Mini plus Monte Carlo Rally clip[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyqqZno8Ktg]YouTube - MINI Alec Issigonis John Cooper (S) Peter Sellers[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRgiI6JU3Tg]YouTube - Mini Creator - Alec Issigonis Talks About His Creation[/ame]
I love the rotisserie idea. Build the car so you can put it on a spit and then cover up the big hole in the middle of the console with a big round speedo. Here is another, in two parts. An excellent documentary. If the notes below in the YouTube comments are right the show was a spin-off of Top Gear. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfE-DLBe5Do]YouTube - The Car's The Star 'Mini' (part one)[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYVQ8lWQqaE]YouTube - The Car's The Star 'Mini' (part two)[/ame]
Yes! I found that quite neat; a new bit of trivia for me! Another interesting thing is how he seems to be tipping his hat to John Cooper when I recall reading somewhere that he was opposed to rallying the Mini.
I had the same thought! I wonder whether people have been putting words into his mouth, so to speak, or maybe he was opposed at first but came around after a bit. I can see how, while his head was still immersed in and obsessed with designing a purely practical car, he might have a problem getting his brain around the idea of using it for something as IMpractical as racing. Maybe once he finished and stepped back and regained his perspective he changed his mind. Meh, I bet it's more of the other, anti-racing practical purists claiming he was opposed when he wasn't actually bothered at all.