It was ‘to drive the Bubble cars off the roads’. The car should be no bigger than 10 x 4 x 4 ft (3 x 1.2 x 1.2 m) and an already existing engine was to be used.

A front-wheel-drive car with a conventional BMC A-series four-cylinder water-cooled engine was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis. The engine was mounted in transversely, with the radiator on the left and had an engine-oil lubricated four-speed transmission in the sump. The Mini was born. The first of the in Birmingham produced cars were sold in 1959. And from 1959 to 2000 5,387,862 cars were sold.

The Mini became at least as popular as the Volkswagen Beetle.

Here are some of the specifications of the Mini:

• Production – 1959-2000
• Manufacturer – BMC to MG Rover and Innocenti, Authi
• Class – Supermini
• Engine – A-series 850-1275 cc 14
• Transmission – 4-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual( a few models only)
• Wheelbase – saloon: 80.3 in (2.14 m), estate and commercials: 84.3 in (2.40 m)
• Length – saloon: 120.1 in (3.05 m), estate and commercials: 133.9 in (3.40 m)
• Width – 55.1 in (1.40 m)
• Height – 53.1 in (1.35 m)
• Kerb weight – 1,360 to 1,512 lb (617 to 686 kg)

There will be a Mini4kids Show at Gunway Quays, Portsmouth on Sunday, October 11, 2009. All Minis and Mini based cars are welcome.