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Mini Clubman Development Story (Aronline)


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#1 mab01uk

mab01uk

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Posted 04 August 2021 - 10:33 PM

"The Clubman was developed through BMC’s want to expand the Mini concept, without spending too much money. It started out as a hatchback proposal penned by Roy Haynes, but then developed into something rather less useful, all under the new code number ADO20. For the Mini, his task was simple: to produce a re-styled model to replace the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet at the top end of the range, with lower production costs. The Elf/Hornet was produced at a rate of only 125 per week and was subtly different to the rest of the Mini range. The resulting car, which was given the development code ADO20, and eventually known as the Mini Clubman, had a longer nose in the same style as its bigger brother, the Austin Maxi.
The above text describes the car that was ultimately launched, but archive photographs show that Roy Haynes and his team had much more radical ideas for the cars external appearance. Much of the development story of the Clubman is sketchy, as both Roy Haynes and Paul Hughes seem to have avoided the attention of motoring journalists. As far as is known, they have never spoken publicly about their part in the Mini story, which is a grave omission by the motoring media, as they have an important story to tell....."
https://www.aronline...elopment-story/

 






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