Austin Mini 1990 - Rare Hatchback prototype
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Min...item3cefbca070

Interesting to note the Minki sketches below from 1992 and the one with the rear lights lifting along with the tailgate..........

The information below, along with a brochure and slide show were used to make a presentation to Rover senior management in October 1992.

1) Improve the powerunit, by installing the ‘K’ series engine with a 5-speed gearbox

2) Improve the suspension, by installing hydragas suspension.

3) Improve the driving position, by installing better seats, altering the rack of the steering column, and along with the fascia / controls

4) Improve its overall luggage capacity, by making it into a hatchback and altering the rear end package.



"The thinking behind the replacement for the Mini started back in about 1992, while under the ownership of British Aerospace and called at that time The Rover Group.
So how was the name MINKI arrived at, simple, put a ‘K’ series engine into a Mini and you have MINKI."

Minki-I
was built by Rover when under BAe ownership and later scrapped.

Minki-II
1995 arrived, and so did BMW! They were surprised that Rover had such a strong brand of Mini, but no plans to do anything with it. Plans for a new Mini were required, and a ‘competition’ was set up, for later on in 1995, to decide on the route forward.
It was decided that a part of that event should be a vehicle that represented what current Mini could have become if investment and development had been put into the Mini over many years. This vehicle would then act as a better benchmark than a standard current Mini for judging what the new Mini needed to beat.
Fortunately, all of the old Minki-I stuff had just been scrapped off, so a Minki-II was hastily required! I say fortunately, because in comparison, the Minki-II project was a very grand affair! By this time, our senior management had seen BMW in operation, and were impressed by the way that they did everything properly, with very high quality prototype vehicles, excellent engineering, etc. Minki-II had to live up to this standard. Great! It was a proper project, with designers and even a few bought-out parts!
The Full Minki Story here:
http://www.austinmemories.com/page46/page46.html





Quote from Ebay Ad.
"This is an unusual Austin Mini. It was used as a prototype to prove that the Mini could be converted to a hatch back. The conversion was carried out by a company in Reddith which specialised in repairs for the Austin Rover Group. Having proved it worked, a further conversion was carried out on a brand new shell from Austin Rover for a special customer."