Yesterday, the stars were finally in the proper alignment and I was able to pick up my MINI at the dealer (Towson, MD). The salesman was going over the car's features with me and he had just finished explaining all about the boot and things to do with the rear of the vehicle. He turned to me and said, "Do you know how the MINI got that exhaust pipe?" I said I didn't, so he explained:

It seems that the MINI's exterior design engineers were about to show the car's new look to some high-level representatives from BMW. As is typical for such things, they'd constructed a full-scale model out of clay and were nervously checking that everything was perfect before the unveiling. Suddenly, someone realized that they had completely forgotten about the exhaust exit on the model. It was panic time -- the demo was five minutes away and there was no spare clay on hand. In a moment of genius-under-stress, one of the engineers drained the can of coke he was holding and shoved it under the bumper, moulding the clay to fit.

Thus the MINI came to have a coke-can-shaped exhaust port.

I nodded my head gravely at this explanation while hearing the bark of a shaggy dog in my head.

Peace,

Mark of Pemburnia

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Frau Blüecar -- MC IB/W. Motoring since 3-10-2003

 

IMO what's more impressive is that they stuck with that design. So refreshing when a car company doesn't take itself too seriously.

 

Was actually a can of bud. There have been posts about this before. As a joke MINI sent us dealers bu cans with the mini logo on them.

 

I heard it was a Budweiser that was polished to be shiny aluminum.

R

 

Yup, the story appears to be true. (...but, its true...ya never know...)

 

>>IMO what's more impressive is that they stuck with that design. So refreshing when a car company doesn't take itself too seriously.

So refreshing... very punny!


sorry.. had to say it :smile:
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MC Silk Green/White top Premium, sport, cold weather, chrome.

 

According to the 2002 MINI catalog, it was actually a beer can :smile:

 

Man, I make one phone call before I hit submit, and look what happens! Sorry for the repeated info...

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2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

 

>>>>IMO what's more impressive is that they stuck with that design. So refreshing when a car company doesn't take itself too seriously.
>>
>>So refreshing... very punny!
>>
>>
>>sorry.. had to say it :smile:
>>_________________
>>MC Silk Green/White top Premium, sport, cold weather, chrome.

 

Folks -- my B.S. detector was alarming off the scale. This can't be a true story, "can" it?

 

>>Folks -- my B.S. detector was alarming off the scale. This can't be a true story, "can" it?<<

Almost a year ago, I read an invterview with Frank Stephenson in which he relayed the story as definitely true. Unfortunately, due to an abrupt and unexpected computer change, I lost much of my digital MINI collection and the links to those articles - or I would point you to it.

The interview had too many details to think that it was fabricated. I believe it - but not because a dealer told me.

 

>>Folks -- my B.S. detector was alarming off the scale. This can't be a true story, "can" it?

You have to admit, it is VERY can-like.. the exact story may not be exactally what we're hearing, but with the shape being so exactally the same, you have to wonder....

Rocketboy_X

 

Mark,

Here is this article, anyhow:

BMWWorld

 

(drones to self in Homer Simpson-like subconscious voice...)

must...use...MCO...thread...search...function....

Previous thread on exactly this topic

 

>>(drones to self in Homer Simpson-like subconscious voice...)
>>
>>must...use...MCO...thread...search...funct ion....
>>
>>Previous thread on exactly this topic
>>
>>

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<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/....gif">

 

it is in fact, true. Motoring Advisors get the whole story about this when they go for training in new jersey.

 

Just be glad they were drinking coke and not coffee, otherwise we'de have a 4' diameter exhuast modeled after a can of Folgers.

 

I had believed the beer can/tailpipe story to be true 'cause I'd read it so often -- in so many well-referenced accounts. However, I was certain that it could not be a Bud as the moment of truth probably happened in Munich or Gaydon, England. But if "antsmini" has seen the MINI-logo'd Bud can, I'm a believer.

I was hoping for the first tailpipe to have been a can of Spaten or Watney's. I'm just happy that it wasn't a Bud Lite.

 

>>it is in fact, true. Motoring Advisors get the whole story about this when they go for training in new jersey.

They have training?

 

"MINI", Patrick C. Paternie, Motor Books International, 2002, pg 33

 

yeah they have training up at the production center in New Jersey. I have yet to go but my other fellow MA's have.

 

I'm just glad that Stephenson wasn't drinking Sunny D from a juice box when he got round to the tailpipe. Ewwwww.

 

>> must...use...MCO...thread...search...function....

Actually, I did search on "coke can", which, for reasons obvious to me now, turned up nothing.

But the subsequent posts bring up an interesting, (though probably spurious) point: Benn (the salesman), who is Engilsh, mentioned that he usually uses the cup holder on the center console of the MINI because it holds "an American-sized soda can". Having never been to England, I don't know how their beverage cans compare with ours but I'd guess that they are smaller in diameter. The MINI's exhaust tip appears to the same dimenson as an American can. Perhaps it's just my doubting nature but unless Frank Stephenson and his crew were into cheap imported beer (as pointed out in the article), the story just doesn't have the ring of truth. Doesn't stop it from being a good yarn, though.

_________________
Frau Blüecar -- MC IB/W. Motoring since 3-10-2003

 

>>
>>But the subsequent posts bring up an interesting, (though probably spurious) point: Benn (the salesman), who is Engilsh, mentioned that he usually uses the cup holder on the center console of the MINI because it holds "an American-sized soda can". Having never been to England, I don't know how their beverage cans compare with ours but I'd guess that they are smaller in diameter. The MINI's exhaust tip appears to the same dimenson as an American can. Perhaps it's just my doubting nature but unless Frank Stephenson and his crew were into cheap imported beer (as pointed out in the article), the story just doesn't have the ring of truth. Doesn't stop it from being a good yarn, though.
>>

Well, perhaps a lot of this could be explained by the fact that Frank Stephenson is AMERICAN! As was most of his design team.

Let's face it, the most british aspect of this car -- beyond the name -- is the electrical system.

 

>>I'm just glad that Stephenson wasn't drinking Sunny D from a juice box when he got round to the tailpipe. Ewwwww.