The original, classic Mini was brought to life due to a shortage of …. well, everything. Coming out after the biggest war in the history of man kind, the world was dried up of resources, from petrol to metal. Fortunately for British people, Sir Alec Issigonis had the brilliant idea of creating the Mini, a car that offered plenty of space while also being economical and frugal.
Under its hood hid a transversely positioned engine making some 55 horsepower that worked with a gearbox that was basically positioned underneath it. Due to this layout that is extremely common these days but was an innovation back then, a lot of space was saved and the cabin could actually accommodate living beings, despite its small overall size.
Just as Jay points out, the original Mini was innovative and offered a cheap means of transportation for millions of people. However, since it was also extremely light on its feet, a lot of people wanted to turn it into a racer. And the car was quite successful in this field as well, winning the Monte Carlo Rally and others in the process. Of course, the low weight helped it corner faster than most of its rivals but what about straight line racing and top speed runs?
Well, the car you’re about to see is all about setting world records. It used to be a stock Mini when it came into this world but thanks to a team of dedicated enthusiasts, it is now a feral beast. It still uses a lot of components from its original engine but it was turbocharged – as you can tell by the pipe going out of the bonnet – and has 370 HP at its disposal. Thanks to other changes, like new tires and a proper intercooler that uses ice, the car managed to set various world records for its size and segment, reaching a top speed of 267 km/h (165.8 mph) on a salt bed, as you’re about to find out.
