50 is the age

If you know me, I love performance vehicles. More of towards the road version of things.. GT racers, Classic rally vehicles, those in group B can turn me on by the sound of its engine alone.

Today, Friday the 22nd of May 2009, mark a big 50 on one of the most classic vehicles. One that at one point dominated the rally scene. One that had been classed among the most influential of vehicles. One that was first designed on the back of an envelope.. The Mini. The car that revolutionised the word "Compact" and "Maximised Space" within the automotive industry.Although not so in the new MINI's and I think the clubman is hell fugly no matter what they do to it. MINI celebrates its 50th anniversary since the first mini rolled off the Cowley production line in 1959.

3 days of celebration on the Silverstone race track here in the UK where the original designing and production was made, a series of shows, races and challanges are brought on to celebrate this very event.

Yahoo had brought up some 50 pictures in conjunction with this special day
The legacy of the iconic mini

And some write ups some years ago about the mini by yours truely:
Mini
The Mini-Again

Enjoy.