Maybe 1,000 times this has already been addressed, but what's the answer? When posting on this forum, and elsewhere, which is the correct notation - MINI or Mini? And why is it that MINI is ever in all caps?

I know that either form is acceptable here, and I usually use Mini, but it seems that the factory uses the all-caps version.

 

When BWM rebranded the line they used all caps.

So MINI is appropriate for the modern Mini.

But I don't think anyone is too concern. Many of these posts are probably coming from smartphones where it's a pain to do the all caps thing.

 

It seems to tweak a few folks who go bonkers over the difference, I get more hung up on the a lot vs. alot vs. allot problem.

mOToR oN!

 

-Luccia

 

It's not a matter of which one is better, it's a matter of which one is correct!



So, count me in as one of those tweaked "bonkers" people!


MINI should only be used to reference the modern vehicle from 2002-present.


Mini refers only to the original vehicle from 1959-2000.


It should always be referenced correctly. You wouldn't type bmw or Bmw on your smart phone, would you?

 

Accepted practice is "Mini" for classics, and "MINI" for the revived, modern production in the 2000's ones.

 

As I recall when the first Mini's came out they were never called Minis. The term was Austin Mini or Morris Mini.
Mini was not a brand but a type of car. Now BMW have changed that.

 

There was no Mini badge on my 1967 ...

 

In 1959, yes the vehicles (Minis) were marketed through the 1960s as Austin Seven, Austin Mini, Austin Mini Super-Deluxe, Mk I Cooper, Mk I Cooper S, Mk II Cooper, Mk II Cooper S and Mk III Cooper S, as well as Morris Mini-Minor and Morris Mini Moke (there were other variations as well like Pickup, Van, Countryman Clubman and Traveler). There were even Italian versions marketed as Innocenti Mini. Most, if not all, Minis after 1969 have a Mini badge and wings.


"Mini" officially became it's own marque in 1969, having nothing to do with BMW. It changed from British Motor Corporation (1959-1968) to British Leyland (1969-1986) to Rover Group (1987-2000) to BMW, where the new generation was marketed as MINI.

 

+1 on that MINIwulf

 

And there you have it folks, concise, accurate, just the facts! Something tells me the MINI is a lot better ride than the Mini.

 

Here is a picture of a 1970 "Mini" - I note that it still has the Austin logo but the MINI 1000 is in upper case! The plot thickens!!!
Looks like BMW were not the first to use the upper case MINI logo. Austin were and Austin was still part of the brand name in 1970.

 

Great point well made. You learn something new every day. I shall type MINI from now on in reference to my new car.

 

I was simply stating the chain of events. There are SOOOOOO many variations, it's completely mind boggling. Depending on the country in which the Mini was marketed, the Logos, badges, nomenclature and models are all different. Then factor in that some older cars or those that were dismantled and reconstructed here in the states may not be completely accurate.


The point was merely that Mini became a "marque" in the 1960s and capital M, lower case i-n-i is how the company regards the spelling. And all caps is reserved for the new generation vehicles beginning in 2001/2002. This is different from what may appear on the vehicles. My friend has a 1973 and it has the MINI (over) COOPER surrounded by the green laurel and wings. It is MINI in all caps as well, but the literature he has for the vehicle says Mini Cooper. And says; "Mini, a product of British Leyland".