La version française est disponible ici : https://360nitro.tv/articles/2019/12/04/cette-classique-britannique-a-sa-place-ici

The story of this Classic begins with the man who created the Mini Cooper Sir Alexander Issigonis, a name many of us may not have heard of. A Turkish born immigrant, Alex grew up under the care of his mother in London, England. He late acquired a degree in mechanical engineering and quickly got into the business by building racecars with George Dowson. These early years working with Dowson would mold his visions for cars his entire life.

In the late 40s, Issigonis found his way to working with Alvis Car and Engineering Company but was lured back to BMC in 1955, where he continued to work on his box-like car design.

The very first Mini, which was primarily using Issigonis design, that was tied to BMC’s other brand names, included the Morris Minor and Austin, was launched in 1959.

The Mini, however, truly evolved when John Cooper of the Cooper Car Company put his input into the initiative with that launch of the Mini Coopers, the iconic appeal as a sportier version of the Mini. The two versions featured 848cc engines for the Cooper and 1071cc for the S type Cooper

The success of the Mini continued to grow as the company’s racing ventures in Rally Racing brought them victory at the famed Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967.

The car was then featured in the 1969 British Film “The Italian Job” which brought further notoriety and fame to the very popular little cars.

The Mini over the past decades has changed dramatically and, in some sense, has lost some of its charm of the days gone by, but for one young Quebecer, it was that charm of the old Mini’s that Kevin Prescott of Gatineau, Québec was yearning to get.

Kevin was raised in Gatineau, and as a little boy, he remembers: “I just remember when I was 6 or 7 years old and we just got the satellite at home and I was watching Mr. Bean on the TV. That’s where I discovered my dream classic car. It wasn’t a classic car back in the day but it was not common in America and especially in Quebec,” explained Kevin.

As Kevin grew up, he never lost that passion for the Mini.

A few years ago, Prescott was scrolling through the car classifieds, stumbled on this add, “ I Finally find one!! an Austin mini for Sell, this was my dream car” Kevin explained.

Kevin contacted the seller that day and within a few days was driving six hours to Stoneham, Quebec to see the car.

“The car, a 1983 Mini with a 1275 cc engine, traveled from England to Gatineau Québec in 2006. At the time, the car had a white roof and a purple body. The car would sit in a garage for years until Olivier Parent of Stoneham Québec bought it in 2015. The car was then shipped up to Stoneham where Oliver started repainting it. He painted the body cherry red with a white roof, but it still needs some love on the body,” Kevin explained.

The car was in fairly good shape, but it did have a small amount of rust and the car needed a good tune-up. Kevin however, fell in love with the car on the spot and made an offer, which was accepted.

Once the car was back in Gatineau, Kevin began doing repairs. He spent hours searching for parts and had the car tuned, as the engine was running a little rough.

After many hours of hard work along with some needed up grads to the suspension, the car is finally starting to look like the classic car it once was.

Kevin explained, “I made my first car shows this year and I meet so many people who love the very same car, giving me an even bigger appreciation for the Mini and how much I really enjoy my hobby — bringing back to life this British classic which has found a home in Quebec.”