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The Mk III Mini had a modified bodyshell with
enough alterations to see the factory code change from ADO15 to
ADO20 (which it shared with the Clubman). The most obvious
changes were larger doors with concealed hinges.
Customer demand led to the sliding windows being replaced with
winding windows – although some Australian-manufactured Mk I
Minis had adopted this feature several years earlier (with
opening quarterlight windows). The suspension reverted from
Hydrolastic to rubber as a cost-saving measure.[24]
Production at the Cowley plant was ended, and the simple name
Mini completely replaced the separate Austin and Morris brands.
MkIII introduced in November 1969 had wind up windows with
internal door hinges except van and pickups. The boot lid lost
the original hinged number plate and its recess shape and a
large rear colour coded lamp was fitted in its place. Larger
rear side windows.
MkIV introduced in 1976 had a front rubber mounted subframe with
single tower bolts and the rear frame had some larger bushes
introduced. Twin stalk indicators were introduced with larger
foot pedals. From 1977 on the rear indicator lamps had the
reverse lights incorporated in them.
MkV, all cars had 8.4 inch brake discs and plastic wheel arches
(noted as mini special arches) but retained the same MkIV body
shell shape.
MkVI is 1990 on when engine mounting points were moved forward
to take 1275 cc power units, and includes the HIF carb version
plus the single point fuel injected car which came out in 1991.
The 998 cc power units were discontinued. Internal bonnet
release fitted from 1992.
MkVII is the final twin point injection with front mounted
radiator.
In the late 1970s, Innocenti introduced the Innocenti 90 and
120, Bertone-designed hatchbacks based on the Mini platform.
Bertone also created a Mini Cooper equivalent, christened the
Innocenti De Tomaso, that sported a 1275 cc turbocharged engine.
Reports of the Mini's imminent demise surfaced again in 1980
with the launch of the Austin Mini-Metro (badging with the word
mini in all lowercase). In 1981 in New Zealand, the Mini starred
in a road trip movie directed by Geoff Murphy called Goodbye
Pork Pie. The Mini was beginning to fall out of favour in many
export markets, and South African, Australian, and New Zealand
production all stopped around this time.
Through the 1980s and 1990s the British market enjoyed numerous
"special editions" of the Mini, which shifted the car from a
mass-market item into a fashionable icon. It was this image that
perhaps helped the Mini become such an asset for BMW, which
later bought the remnants of BMC as the Rover Group. It was even
more popular in Japan, where it was seen as a retro-cool icon,
and inspired many imitators.
In 1994 under Bernd Pischetsrieder, a first cousin once removed
of Issigonis, BMW took control of the Rover Group, which
included the Mini, fitting an airbag to comply with European
legislation.
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| 1969 - MK2 production stopped.
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