Photograph taken around 1964 to promote Bear Brand evaporated milk.
Source: Museum Victoria
Fifty years ago this August, the first Mini motor car rolled off the assembly line and into popular culture. To mark the anniversary, the museum’s 1964 Morris Mini Cooper will be on display at Scienceworks from 13 July to 25 November 2009.
The Mini was designed in response to the first post-war fuel supply crisis caused by the 1956 Suez conflict. Alec Issigonis of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) created a vehicle that revolutionised the way compact cars were made, featuring a transverse-mounted engine and gearbox with front-wheel drive. Generous interior room, sporty performance and cheeky styling soon made the Mini a sales success and an iconic design following its launch in August 1959.
In Australia, the Mini was built in Sydney from 1961 to 1978. The Cooper and Cooper S versions developed by British racing-car builder John Cooper became legendary for their competition success including wins in the Bathurst 500 race and the Monte Carlo rally. In 1969 three Minis featured in the classic film The Italian Job starring Michael Caine.
Production of the original Mini in the UK ceased in 2000 after nearly 5.5 million had been produced. BMW revived the design in the late 1990s retaining elements of the original styling to give the new car ‘retro’ appeal. In January 2009, the Royal Mail released a series of postage stamps recognising British design icons including the Mini.
Museum Victoria’s Mini Cooper was purchased in 1984 from its second owner. This is the first time it has been on display.