Mini Clubman History

In 1969, under the control of British Leyland, the Mini a facelift by stylist Roy Haynes, who had previously worked for Ford has undergone. The redesigned version called the Mini Clubman, and has a square frontal look with the same characteristics Assembly window or the Austin Maxi. The Mini Clubman was replaced to cover the upper Riley and Wolseley versions. A new model, called the 1275GT was expected that the 998 cc Mini Cooper (1275 cc Mini Cooper S continued alongside the 1275GT substitute for two years until 1971). The Clubman Estate took over where the Countryman and Traveller left off.


The production of the Clubman and 1275GT has had a slow start because the car a lot of changes in production, "were, including the relocation of the tool manufacturer's plant in Cowley plant in Longbridge: incorporated very few cars to existing customers until the first months of 1970 delivered [35].

were early on the market Clubmans delivered on a conventional tire, despite the fact that in 1970, the standard was radial to the main competitors of the car [35]. In 1973, new minis that come standard with radials, although the transverse folds can be specified by special order, which buyers a price for the UK economy £ 8 [36].

The 1275GT is often mistaken as the "Mini Clubman 1275GT". The official name was always just the "Mini 1275GT", and was separate and distinct model Clubman (if it shared the same frontal treatment as the Mini Clubman, and was launched at the same time).

In 1971, the 1275 cc Mini Cooper S sold in the UK, so the Mini 1275GT that sport Mini for sale for the rest of the decade. to make Innocenti, Italy, however, continue their own version of the Mini Cooper for some time. While the UK built 1275GT was not as quick as a Mini Cooper S 1275, it is cheaper to buy, manage and secure. It was the first Mini to be equipped with a tachometer. He also set a standard close-ratio transmission FIT. Performance of the 1275GT was lively for the time, achieving 0-60 mph (97 KMH) provides in 12.9 seconds and an excellent mid-range 30-50 mph (48-80 kmh) in time, the maximum speed of only nine seconds . The rock wall means, but that the model reached 90 miles an hour (140 mph) is difficult. could be the 1275 cc A-series to hear cheap and easy, even if the stripes of the purchase price at low prices and top "Sidewinder door" means that this model developed a reputation as a "boy-racer special" during the 1970s and 1980s.

The Mini Clubman and 1275GT were responsible for two drivers "firsts": they were the first vehicles to use a flexible printed circuit behind the aircraft instruments (universal nowadays, but technically advanced for 1969). Secondly, the 1275GT was the first vehicle with run-flat tires, could be ordered from the year 1974, this model will be offered optional Dunlop Denovo 12-inch (300 mm) diameter wheels. In the case of a flat tire, the Dunlop Denovo would not burst and quickly emptied, but could still be used safely at speeds up to 50 mph (80 kmh) be. It was a useful safety device, although the road noise and mean better grip on a relatively low tire that many 1275GT buyers ignored this option.

During the 1970s, British Leyland continued to produce the classic 1959 "round" design front, next to the new Clubman and 1275GT models. The long nose Clubman and 1275GT offers better crash safety, were better equipped and had significantly improved access under the hood, but they were more expensive and aerodynamically inferior to the original design of 1959. The Mini Clubman and 1275GT were replaced in 1980 by the new hatchback Austin Metro, while production of the original "mini-tower design before," continued for another 20 years. At the end of Clubman and 1275GT production, 275 583 Clubman saloons and Clubman Estate 197 606 110 673 1275 GTs have been [made 18].