Mini 50 special issue
of Mini Magazine out now!

Collect and treasure this month’s Mini Magazine as it is our special tribute to the Mini’s 50th birthday – all for the same amazing price of £3.99.

Instead of covering lots of old ground and information most people already know, we created this special issue as part of our regular monthly magazine delving into the Mini’s history and looking at a number of cars that represent that period in time.

The biggest story this month has to be our discovery of the oldest Mini in the world! Yes, while out in Japan we found the second Mini ever created – driven by Alec Issigonis and Donald Healey - along with its unique styling, and we have a full feature of it on these pages – only in Mini Magazine.

You can also win over £1200 worth of retro-styling kit! With a Minimail retro roof rack, MkI grille courtesy of Minispeed, MkI light conversion and bonnet straps from Mini-its, retro Corbeau seats and a load of rally lights straight from Wipac. Visit www.minimag.co.uk to enter.

We also look back to the much-maligned 1959 Minis which were put into production despite a number of problems. Because of this, no one cared for them much at the time and the later models were much more desirable. We find three very different examples of 1959 Minis and see how they each survived in their own remarkable way.

The Cooper epitomised the sporting qualities of the Mini, but there was more to the Cooper than just Works cars and Monte wins. We look at how the versatility of the Mini and how by its simplicity it gave us all a blank canvas, from coachbuilt cars to rally monsters.

There are few cars that are so well catered for in the aftermarket and over the past half century various trends have come and gone. We look at how each decade had its own theme.

The ’60s may be the decade that everyone associates with our favourite car, but it was the ’70s that were the Mini’s boom years. We look at how BL sorted itself out and how things could have been very different!

You can’t ignore that the reason the Mini has survived so long is because of its appeal to people. And for some strange reason it makes us all act a little silly or feel like teenagers again. We share our memories of Mini people and how you are really key to ensuring the Mini lives on!

In the ‘80s the Mini was up against it, but some clever marketing saw the idea of limited edition Minis become a success and provide us with a whole load of new styles to enjoy! We look at each and see how it affected future production.

As the end of the Century loomed so did the end of Mini production, but not without one final hurrah. Paul Dawson shows off his end of the line Mini Cooper Sport 500.

The end of production wasn’t the death knell many expected it to be, and realistically, there are more power upgrades and ways to mod your Mini now than ever before. We gathered some of the hottest modded Minis and put them to the test with the help of racing legend Richard Longman.

No tribute to the Mini would be right without respecting the people who made all of this achievable. Our Hall of Fame looks at all the big names and how they contributed to the Mini’s success.

With so many ways to modify your Mini it can be confusing, so was asked Tech Expert Keith Calver to compile his Top 10 mods for the Mini, as well as looking at the Top 10 breakages, mostly through neglect.

Buying a Mini? Then let our Mini assessment guide help you cut away the dead wood by helping you avoid the lemons and get a good deal.

Mini Magazine is available in all WHSmiths high street stores and all other good newsagents. You can also subscribe and have it delivered to your door days before it is on sale, at a cheaper price. Visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk