Mini Design

Mini Design

Sir,

In drawing attention to your September Editorial to rho fact that the Mini was not entirely the brainchild of Alec Issigonis, as it would not have been possible without Alex Moulton’s ingenious suspension systems, you effectively credit Issigonis with the rest of the design features. In doing this you completely overlook the fact that DKW were in production with a transverse-engined front-wheel-drive car nearly thirty years bethre the advent of the Mini in 1959, and doubtless it was not original even then. Puckeridge M. C. JACKSON [The DKW had a transverse two-cylinder two-stroke engine driving the front wheels, which may or may not have influenced Sir Alec in his later concept. But whereas he dispensed with a separate gearbox and employed a transverse power-pack to increase passenger and luggage space in the ve, compact, short-wheelbase Mini Minor, DKW definitely did not use trunsversity to this end; their spacious saloons were so by reason of a long wheelbase for such a small-engineti car. And what of Sir Alec’s very small round wheels, side radiator, adoption of Alex Moulton’s ingenious rubber suspension etc.? — Ed.]