65 replies to this topic

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I've never considered it before, but you'd think they'd have put X621AOK on the Sportspack?

I dont think that would ring true to the history and evolution of the Mini, the final license plate was 'X411 JOP' and I think it'd be wrong to change or manipulate that. All cool as it would be!

[mab01uk]

Rover built what they thought the market wanted, judging by sales you could argue whether it worked but there is lots of late Minis still around, I think they're awesome

A mk1 Mini on tens is cool but the days of carbs and drum brakes can only last so long! They are both very different cars, I dont think either is right or wrong, both perfect.

Very true. The Sportpack was really a result of BMW's takeover in 1994. As you know Rover were going to let just the Mini quietly die in 1996 due to the significant investment needed to meet new EU safety, emissions and drive by noise rules. However BMW realised the value of the Mini and its worldwide reputation and wanted to increase its position in the market as a more upmarket small car with extra 'fun' factor. The Mini no longer sold as a bargain basement economy car or 'sensible' buy....it was too expensive to build and the competition was way ahead in that area of the small car market. The result was the development of the 1997 MPi models and Sportpack range, far more expensive than previous Mini's to buy but with airbags, better trim and a huge choice of customer options and accessories. This also kept the Mini in the marketplace and public eye as a current car right up until the launch of the Rover designed R50 New MINI.......although of course the later BMW split from Rover mean't only the launch prototypes were ever to be shown/marketed as Rover MINI's at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor show Preview.

Despite the publicity about the end of production, the last MPi Mini's left at MG-Rover Dealers took a while to sell, even with special £900 discounts and so quite a few were not registered to retail customers until long after official production had ended. I guess many potential buyers were also putting their deposits on the New MINI's waiting list due for launch a few months later in early 2001.

Edited by mab01uk, 30 January 2013 - 06:37 PM.

[Vipernoir]

Didn't Rover have a Rover badged Bini at Silverstone in '99 for the 45th anniversary - I certainly remember seeing one on the stage there.

[998dave]

I've never considered it before, but you'd think they'd have put X621AOK on the Sportspack?

I dont think that would ring true to the history and evolution of the Mini, the final license plate was 'X411 JOP' and I think it'd be wrong to change or manipulate that. All cool as it would be!

But surely it was only X411JOP because that was what it was given when registered, you could have just as easily registered it as anything else you wanted...

[mab01uk]

Didn't Rover have a Rover badged Bini at Silverstone in '99 for the 45th anniversary - I certainly remember seeing one on the stage there.

Yes, Rover had a New MINI R50 prototype on stage inside a special marque at the Silverstone Mini 40th Celebration in 1999. If you queued to get inside the New MINI was very briefly displayed under spotlights on stage after a short film showing the history of the Mini. On exit the audience of Mini enthusiasts were given cards each time to vote whether they liked it or not and deposit into ballot boxes outside for Rover marketing research.

John Cooper below with Classic and New Mini's in August 1998



^ The last official classic Mini off the production line

Edited by mab01uk, 30 January 2013 - 06:50 PM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I've never considered it before, but you'd think they'd have put X621AOK on the Sportspack?

I dont think that would ring true to the history and evolution of the Mini, the final license plate was 'X411 JOP' and I think it'd be wrong to change or manipulate that. All cool as it would be!

But surely it was only X411JOP because that was what it was given when registered, you could have just as easily registered it as anything else you wanted...

But if it tied in with the number plates of the Minis produced before it then why change it? 621 was the same, it just happened to be the number plate given at the time. To me it takes something away when you change something like that,

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 30 January 2013 - 02:08 PM.

[minimarco]

Seeing them beside each other, AOK looks much more graceful.

JOP is trying too hard.

I have to disagree with this. They come from very different times, and I think they demonstrate this perfectly. It would be nice to have maybe 3 more models there to demonstrate the changes throughout its life every now and then as well. I think I will pay a visit to Gaydon in the near future.

I think my comment should've been more clear. Cars evolve only to satisfy the need to attract a big enough piece of the market (revolution would be the need to improve, like AOK was). They are products of their time, and I can only blame society for its penchant for attention (lol that rhymes), thus the steroids and tracksuit, thus trying too hard.

Don't get me wrong, I like both those cars. AOK was made at a time when people bought things for what they were worth, and I prefer that.

[MaxAndPaddy]

But be honest which one would you rather take for a spin?

[minimarco]

I would probably want to drive JOP but own AOK =P

[MaxAndPaddy]

I would probably want to drive JOP but own AOK =P

Yeah me too

[Dan]

But if it tied in with the number plates of the Minis produced before it then why change it?

Manufacturers don't issue plates to cars, they are registered by the dealers or private individuals. Manufacturers only register cars they intend to keep and want to use on the road (press cars, factory fleets, test vehicles etc.), and they have to register them from what is their registration office. Effectively they get given a range of numbers to use. So while it wasn't registered in any specific sequence, or got that number because it came next following the previous car that rolled off the line, it couldn't simply be given whatever number they wanted either. It was given a number that came from the Longbridge registration office.

I have also heard that this was not the last car assembled, but that doesn't mean it wasn't the last off the line. All production lines end in a final prep area where some cars are taken into individual bays for any little tweaks they need or fitting of low volume accessories or parts that the assembly line isn't set up for. Or if they fail the final test for a minor reason that can be easily fixed. A car doesn't actually finish assembly until it rolls out of the prep area and through the test bay with a pass, so just because it may have spent an extended period in final prep doesn't mean it wasn't the last car off the line.

[rids]

i wonder if porsche 911 drivers argue about which model is better?
if minis continuously evolved like the 911, the step between mini and bini might not have been so great

[mini-luke]

i wonder if porsche 911 drivers argue about which model is better?
if minis continuously evolved like the 911, the step between mini and bini might not have been so great

Lets face it, if rover hadn't been so damn tight and spend most of their time planning how to kill the Mini off it would have looked a lot more different in 2000

[1984mini25]

Also 621 AOK isn't as original as you'd think. I'm sure I've seen pictures of it having been fitted with spotlamps and I'm sure I heard from somewhere it's even had a new roof at some stage.

[Noah]

Also 621 AOK isn't as original as you'd think. I'm sure I've seen pictures of it having been fitted with spotlamps and I'm sure I heard from somewhere it's even had a new roof at some stage.

Pretty sure it had a front end at somepoint or a wing?