SLEEPING BEAUTY

Throughout the 1960s, whilst America was happily cranking out gas-guzzling behemoths in their hordes, a ‘small’ automotive revolution was gathering pace. More and more motorists were rebelling against Detroit’s ‘largesse’, seeking instead a rather more compact option.

Not only that, despite fuel costs being a mere pittance, economy cars and modestly-sized ones in particular, were making market headway. VW’s Beetle was becoming popular with the impecunious. And the hipsters too. But the Mini, which arrived in America in 1960, could tease even more from a gallon, was cooler than a cool thing, and could out corner just about everything – even the exotica. The American motoring press and sports car enthusiasts loved the Mini, which was in a class of its own.

Yet BMC’s baby began falling victim to the swingeing