If the image looks small, try hitting print then cancel, they are all scanned and saved at 1 : 1
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Press Launch Photo. Signed by A. Issigonis. A Nice picture of the man and his machine. This is an original 1959 press photo that I was lucky enough to get autographed by Mr. Issigonis during Mini 25 at Donnington Park. |
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The Complete 1959 Salesmans guide for the Austin Se7en. Download a high quality PDF of the entire publication. Follow the link to the left to download a 40 page PDF of the original salesmans guide. This fascinating publication details everything an eager salesman needed to knmow about BMC's new baby when it was first introduced. |
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Austin & Morris "850" Press Launch Pack. The complete US launch pack. In April 1960 the US Importer of BMC cars announced the introduction of a brand new model. I have reproduced the entire launch pack presented to members of the press and potential retailers. This is an incredibly rare item, being the only one I have ever seen or for that matter heard of. Click on the image to the left to see the entire pack, I hope you like it. |
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The Leading Six A promotional booklet produced for the re launch of the Mini in 1960. Contrary to popular belief the Mini was by no means a roaring success when it first came out. Most of the motoring journalists of the day raved about it but the public were resistant to the new model to say the least. In early 1960 BMC had a relaunch of the Mini and this booklet was produced as part of the sales drive. It compared the Mini to 5 other leading small cars of the day, and demonstrated (unsurprisingly) that the Mini was way better than the oposition in many areas. I have produced a PDF download of the whol booklet that is available HERE or you can hit the link opposite to view a lower definition html version. |
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BMCAmerica Press Release Regarding the 997 Cooper & Cooper 'S'. Confidential Until Tuesday, 22nd September 1963. This is a copy of the press release issued by BMC's agents in North America. You will notice that both the 997 Cooper & Cooper 'S' were released virtually simultaneously. |
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Original Austin Press Release for the 1071cc Mini Cooper 'S' Confidential Until Tuesday, 29th March 1963. This is a copy of the original press release produced when the 1071cc Mini Cooper 'S' was unveiled to the worlds press and public. From the outset it is obvious that BMC were planning on manufacturing a "Real" competition vehicle, Paragraph four makes this very clear. You have been warned! |
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Original 1071cc Mini Cooper 'S' Specification. Confidential Until Tuesday, 2nd April 1963. This is a copy of the full specification for the 1071cc Mini Cooper 'S' that was supplied with the Press Release above. Page 1 of 2.
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1071cc Mini Cooper S Handbook Suppliment. Introduced with the original 'S' in 1963. This is the very first suppliment that covered the legendary Mini Cooper 'S'. Needless to say it only covers the 1071 variant, as the others were not even a twinkle in the eye yet! |
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The First Homologation Memo . Internal BMC Document (dated 8th Jan. 1963). This is a copy of a Memo circulated within BMC concerning the Homologation of the New Mini Cooper 'S'. Among those this Memo was sent to was, John Thornley, the Manager of the MG Car Co. & a certain Mr A. Issigonis. This is probably the very first time that the Words Mini Cooper 'S' & competition were mentioned in the same sentence. A truly rare find! |
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The Dawn of a new era Oct. 1969. In October 1969 a new breed of Mini was announced. It was to be more luxourious, better equiped and above all have new fangled Modern wind up windows. BL seemed to be very proud of their upgrading of the Mini range. I wonder if they realised then that the "Golden Days" were already over? Thanks to Andy B for the copy. |
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Here comes the Clubman range. Another important document announcing BMC's intention to introduce a new range of "Superminis" to run in line with the current Mini & Cooper ranges. Well that may have been the original plan, but the Cooper S didn't last very long after this announcement. . . . . Did it! |
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The Fateful Press Release 1970. This is a copy of the press release that no one ever wanted to read! On the 25th of August 1970 it was announced that British Leyland had decided to close the most successful Wrks Competitions Department of the 1950's, & 60's. CXlick on the accompanying links to read their weasle words. Thanks to Richard Charity for this copy of a very sad document. |
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BMC / Innocenti anounce a manufacturing deal. In 1959 BMC and the well know scooter manafacturer announced a plan for Innocenti to manufacture BMC vehicles under license. Who could have guessed just how well this particular arrangement was going to work. I bet BMC never expected the Italians to improve on their new BMC baby! |
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BMC Service Memo (M / 619). BMC regularly published "Confidential" service memoranda, these were circulated throughout the BMC dealer network and were all the recommended fixes for problems that arose with their vehicles. M / 619 was the very first one to mention the Mini-minor / Austin se7en by name, although this one is not exactly "earth shattering it was issued less than 2 weeks after the launch of this new model. I will be posting further issues in the future. (there are over 500 to go at from 1959 up to 1970!) |
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I'm Complaining to the boss. Somehow I doubt you would get a personally signed letter from the chairman of Ford or General motors nowadays. Well in 1970, you could get one from Lord Stokes! |
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Ian Dunlop's "Drive in comfort" An Austin English Lesson. The phrase "Patronising beyond belief" springs to mind when you hear this BMC classic! Originally circulated by BMC Sweden, this 7" single promotes the "Ideals of Englishness" and the Benefits of the current Range of Austin Motor vehicles in one not too easy to swallow lump. If you click on the image to the left you can download a high quality MP3 of this classic advertising record as well as decent quality images of the cover. Add this to your CD collection and amaze your friends with just how stuck up Brits can be! Don't miss out on this absolute CLASSIC :-) |
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BMC Service Memoranda. Throught the production of the Mini BMC produced regular service memoranda which detailed faults and fixes for problems that cropped up on all their models. Reproduced here is a full set of the memos concerning the mini from shortly after its inception in 1959 through to October 1960. The problems addressed in these top secret documents give a fantastc insight into the early days of Mini production. I have a full set of these through to late 1969 and may reproduce more in the future. |
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BMC (Morris) Service Memorandum M/639. It is well documented that the early Minis suffered badly from water ingress. Service Memo M/639 is concerned exclusivley with keeping the water out. You won't believe what lengths the dealers were expected to go to! |
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BMC (Austin) Service Memorandum A1277 - A356. A huge collection of Austin service memoranda dating from August 1959 through to 1961, covering those chaotic early days when the problems were being found in the new car and solutions had to be found quick. This section is broken into 4 PDF files in excellent definition. I would like to thank Martin Bell for taking the time to scan them for me to post here. Thanks Martin!
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Assembly at Cowley. A very interesting & informative booklet writen about the new facilities introduced to the Cowley plant in 1959. Click on the image to the left for a PDF of the full brochure. |
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When British Industry Was Still Worth Shouting About. In 1966 the British government had already realised that UK industry was begining to fall behind it's more flexible, less expensive foreign competition so it decided to stage a marketing campaign. As part of this campaign a set of stamps were issued depicting "British Technology". Various aspects of cutting edge british technology were depicted as follows the 4d stamp depicted Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, the 6d stamp British Motor-cars, the 1s 3d the SR N6 Hovercraft & the 1s 6d the Windscale nuclear Reactor. Needless to say the one of interest to us was the 6 penny stamp depicting an E-type Jaguar, a Mini, an 1100 and something else I can't quite make out. A collectors first day cover was also issued with a very nice Mini / BMC rosette design on the front. Click on the images opposite for a better look at both the cover & the very rare letter that went out with it. Thanks again to Simon Wheatcroft for sending me the images. |
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The British Motor Corporation Ltd. This brief history of The British Motor Corporation Lt. ius based on an address originally given to The Society of Investment Analysts and makes a fascinating insight into the structure of what was at that time one of the most successful companies in the UK. Oh how the mighty fell! |
