1976 British Leyland Mini

Mini Mk3 (Saloon), 1969-1976

The Mini Mk3 was in production from 1969 until 1976. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive saloon range seating four adults.

By 1970 it was all change for the Mini - the Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet and estate variants had been subsumed into the new Clubman, and before long the Cooper brand would follow it. This just left the two basic Mini models offered in Mk2 guide - the 850 and the 1000. These would be replaced by the new Mk3 Mini - which was easily distinguished from its predecessor by the same internal door hinges and wind up windows that had been previewed on the last of the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet models. Mini 1000 also gained inertia reel seat belts and reclining seats over and above the spec of the 850.

The final Cooper branded Mini would be a Mk3 - the short lived Mk3 Cooper S, which was discontinued for 1971 in favour of the less powerful Clubman-based 1275GT. The Mk3 Minis would be replaced in 1976 by the Mk4 - which offered minor trim adjustments such as the replacement of the gutter rail with a plastic trim, and built in reversing lights for the 1000. Otherwise, the standard set by the Mk3 would cover the Mini well into the 1980s.

During the 1970s, new competitors emerged for the Mini concept. As well as the Hillman Imp, there was now the tiny air cooled Fiat 126, resembling a squared off Fiat 500 and offering an even smaller footprint. The Renault R5 was also launched - 845cc and a hatchback, even if it was slightly larger than the BL favourite. The premium Mini 1000 would also compete with entry level variants of the Austin Allegro in 1100 form, and even with the square nosed Clubman which ostensibly sat above it in the range. Communist cars such as the Lada and the Moskvich continued to offer good value. As rivals today go, the Ford Escort evokes a similar era, while the same basic package can be had in the 1980s Austin Metro for a far smaller outlay.