The Mini mastered efficiency of space like nothing before or since. Tardis-like in its roominess, it was capable of carrying two adults up front without the driver awkwardly brushing their passenger’s knee when changing gear.
But for luggage there was plenty to be desired. The bottom-hinged bootlid opened to little more than a crevice. Radford, the age-old coachbuilders, tackled that to The Beatles’ delight, but no Mini came out of the factory with a wide-opening hatchback until BMW revived the model.
The British Motor Corporation and, crucially, Alec Issigonis came close, though, and the prototype Mini replacement will be on display at the Scramble thanks to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon.
Christened the 9X, it was radically un-Mini like in styling and boxy like the little hatches that were about to take over the world. Issigonis managed to shave a few inches from the Mini for the 9X, and it proposed to utilise a new, lighter engine, rather than the ubiquitous A series.
The various and numerous machinations with the crumbling BMC empire ensured the 9X never saw the light of day past the prototype and the Mini persevered long into the next couple of decades. BMC's inaction allowed the pocket hatches of Volkswagen, Peugeot and Fiat to flourish a few years later.
It’s fitting that the 9X will be joined by an early MINI ‘R50’ hatch. It is among the finest of the retro-style designs of the millennium, getting better with every passing year. Unlike some of its revivalist contemporaries.
You’ll see the two Mini replacements on the hatchback celebration at the sold-out Scramble on Sunday 6 October.
Photo with thanks to British Motor Museum / James Mann