Birth of a Legend

	The Mini was first designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1959. He was charged by Lord Nuffield of British Motor Corporation (BMC) to create a fuel efficient car that will compete on the market.
The first Classic Mini made its debut on August 26, 1959. The Classic Mini was the first mass-produced automobile with a transversally placed engine. It fit 4 adults, was gas-frugal, had great handling, and was priced under $800! The placement of the engine created a commodious passenger area and allowed a proportionately large wheelbase: the Classic Mini became the first sedan to truly handle like a sports car.
After a series of celebrities bought Classic Minis, the car became a "must-have" auto, and over the decades it has become the most popular British car ever made with over 5.3 million units sold. It influenced the design of Mary Quant's mini-skirt and in a poll organized by Autocar Magazine in 1995,Classic Mini was named their Car of the Century.
In 1996 a panel of experts from Classic and Sportscar magazine voted Classic Mini to be the 'No. 1 Classic Car of All Time,' and in 1999, an international panel of judges voted Classic Mini to be the European Car of the Century, taking second place in the Global Car of the Century Competition, topped only by the Ford Model T.

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