The Irony of the Mini

[Moppie]

While reading the latest NZ Driver Magazine I realized the irony in BMW building the new Mini after buying (and then selling) the remains of the British car industry. It was the same car industry through Austin that gave BMW thier first car; The BMW dixi which was nothing more than a rebadged, license built Austin 7.
So in a sense BMW's first car was an Austin, while thier latest car is spirtualy also an Austin. However the roles of Austin and BMW in making of the two cars have, over 70yrs, been completly reversed.

[bmwworld]

Don't forget Rolls-Royce!

[Moppie]

Originally posted by bmwworld
Don't forget Rolls-Royce!

'

What about Rolls Royce? Up Untill the time BMW scored the Rolls name, they were merly an engine supplier.
What I was trying to point out is that it was Austin who helped start BMW as a major automotive manufactor by lending them the Austin 7 design, and now 70yrs later BMW are agian building a famous Austin Model, but as the Owners and controling party, not the underdog.

[bmwworld]

Did Austin help BMW or did BMW help Austin?

After the war, Austin was in serious financial trouble, and the license of the A7 to BMW saved the Austin Company.

[Moppie]

Originally posted by bmwworld
Did Austin help BMW or did BMW help Austin?

After the war, Austin was in serious financial trouble, and the license of the A7 to BMW saved the Austin Company.

Yes but at the same time BMW was also in desprate trouble, (after all they were on the losing side) and didnt have the resources to design thier own new car, so in that sense Austin saved BMW. I dont think BMW on thier own saved Austin by building the Dixe (7), since Datsun, and an unremebered American Company also built the Austin 7 under License. But BMW certainly helped.

[bmwworld]

Speaking of Austin, have you heard the rumors about the new BMW Austin Healey?

[Moppie]

Originally posted by bmwworld
Speaking of Austin, have you heard the rumors about the new BMW Austin Healey?

Yeah, but I think it really is nothing more than a rummor, or prehaps a fall back if the Z3 had failed to sell, after all that was a small gamble for BMW, and rebadgeing it as an Austin Healey would have changed people perceptions of it, however it seems to sell quite well with a BMW Badge.
There was Talk for some time about bringing back the Triumph TR name as well, that would have been something, imagine a TR6 with an M3 engine under the hood, and BMW tuned suspension, hey, it already exists, Its the M spec Z3