21 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

Starting next week and until January 31st 2016, a showing of over 30 Mini vehicles along with accessories, photos, films and sketches will tell the Mini Story.

Visitors to the BMW Museum will for the first time be able to admire over 30 original vehicles, smaller exhibits and accessories from 55 years of Mini history. Numerous photos, films and sketches, along with a wealth of background information, tell the story of the tradition-rich brand across 20 themed areas. On 28 November 2014 the BMW Museum hosts a grand opening party for the new exhibition.

“Following the recent guest appearance by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, this special Mini exhibition allows us to give our visitors a closer look at another of the BMW Group’s heritage-rich brands,” adds Gabriele Fink, Head of the BMW Museum.

http://www.motoringf...the-bmw-museum/

 

Edited by mab01uk, 23 November 2014 - 03:16 PM.

[Tanya]

I've helped the curator with this over the past 15 months or so, mainly sending him Mini info, Mini contacts and helping him source three Minis from private owners in the UK.  It's been good fun and he's been in several of our Minis, as I told him that he had to!  I'm looking forward to going to the opening on Wednesday in Munich.  I think the opening that I'm going to is for those who have worked on the exhibition, BMW board directors, press etc. I'll post some pics when I get back.  I'm looking forward to it after all this time    

[The Matt]

We should do a TMF Munich run to go and see it!

[sledgehammer]

not forgetting some of the first BMW cars were Austin 7's aka dixi's

 

sent in kit form , when BMW cars were too expensive in the 20's

[mab01uk]

not forgetting some of the first BMW cars were Austin 7's aka dixi's

 

sent in kit form , when BMW cars were too expensive in the 20's

 

and ironically BMW produced the original BMW Isetta one of those 'foreign Bubble Cars' that BMC wanted the Mini to drive off the roads of Britain!

 

As you say the very first BMW car, the Dixi, was an Austin 7 built under licence........if only things had worked out differently it perhaps would have been BL or Rover that bought BMW instead !

Edited by mab01uk, 23 November 2014 - 06:08 PM.

[mab01uk]

We should do a TMF Munich run to go and see it!

 

Its open in Munich until January 31st 2016......so with a stop-off halfway there and back at the Nurburgring perhaps ?

[MaxAndPaddy]

That's the kids summer Holidays sorted then

[The Matt]

We should do a TMF Munich run to go and see it!

 
Its open in Munich until January 31st 2016......so with a stop-off halfway there and back at the Nurburgring perhaps ?

Yep, that'd be good. The route pretty much passes the 'ring.

[Black.Ghost]

Yes! That trip needs to be organised. Split the time and have a few nights in Munich and a few nights at the Ring.

[Cooperman]

So both BMW & Datsun built the original Austin 7 under licence.

How the British motor industry got things so wrong after about 1970 is amazing.

[mab01uk]

"Yes, the emphasis lies on current models and prototypes for these, but interestingly for us lot there's a little more than the well-known classics they haul to every prestigious event. In fact they have made the effort to show some Mini derivatives!"
http://maximummini.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Rare four-door Mini built by Mini Mengers
http://www.mini-mengers.de/index.php

Edited by mab01uk, 02 December 2014 - 07:23 PM.

[brownspeed]

wunderbar!

[pusb]

So both BMW & Datsun built the original Austin 7 under licence.

How the British motor industry got things so wrong after about 1970 is amazing.

 

My Dad started his working life at Rootes Ryton, where he stayed from it changing to Chrysler, then Talbot, then Peugeot. Some of the stories he tells its no wonder the British car manufacturers went under.

 

For instance, there was a problem at the paint shop in the Linwood plant in Glasgow. So their solution was for Hillman Imp bodies to be put together at Linwood, sent on a train down to Coventry to be sprayed, and then put on a train back up to Linwood for assembly.

 

He seemed to remember this going on for quite a while. At the time the German or Japanese manufacturer would never allowed such a delay in production. They would have just got the plant fixed.

 

The extra costs involved in transporting those cars up and down the country wiped out any profit made on them!

[jamesmpi]

I like the 5 door mpi. Apparently it uses the same floor pan as a mini van

Edited by jamesmpi, 02 December 2014 - 06:21 PM.

[mab01uk]

I like the 5 door mpi. Apparently it uses the same floor pan as a mini van

 

Do you have any other details or photos?

 

Vehicle details before export:-
M432 BLT
Vehicle make ROVER
Date of first registration 19 November 1994
Year of manufacture 1994
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1275cc
CO₂Emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker Yes
Vehicle status Not taxed
Vehicle colour RED
✗ Untaxed