The expression ‘giant killer’ has become hackneyed these days, but back in the mid-Sixties it certainly applied to John Cooper’s ‘reimagining’ of his friend Alec Issigonis’ revolutionary small car. During the Swinging Sixties the diminutive Mini-Cooper beat thoroughbreds including Porsche 911s, Renault Alpine A110s, Lancia Fulvia HFs and even Lotus Cortinas. Between 1960 and ’71, Minis won 32 top-level rallies, five British Touring Car championships and everything else besides. Not bad for a tiddler.
As you will read elsewhere, the most famous Minis