I am trying to find out some more information about the history of the bulldog/MINI association. Has the bulldog always been associated with the MINI? Or is this a recent trend? Does anyone have any information on this??

I'm just looking for some inspiration for names/design ideas/decals etc. for the MINI I hope to order some day soon!

Thanks in advance for anyone with any insight!

 

I'm not sure about the history with Mini, but at least since the early days of MINI the bulldog has been associated with it. In 2002 the dealerships opened with a huge mural of a bulldog on the walls.

EDIT: found a picture of it. That's me with my folks Pug Elliot

 

I think it is mainly a marketing gimmick rather than history, the philosophy being the car looks like a bulldog.

 

That is awesome! I wish I could have that to put up in my garage!

 

I don't know the exact date, but the term "Bulldog" has been used for as long as i can remember... it refers to the "stance of the "Orig" Mini..Broad,wide stance.....

 

I don't know the marketing history but the primary association is that an English Bull Dog is that it's a British icon, like the Mini. When the new MINI came out, many Brits rejected it because it's now built by a German company that many Brits despise. I believe the Bull Dog was an attempt to "Britify" the brand. And yes, I invented that word. Plus, is there anything cuter than an English Bull dog?

 

Here are the ferrari style quarter panel bulldog badges (decals) on my little bully...

 

OK, I'm seeing an idea here. What about a "prancing bulldog" like Ferrari's prancing horse.

 

I don't think bulldogs "prance". But if they do... I don't think I want to see them doing it, certainly not on my car.

 

heh heh... I thought about that for a very brief moment. Then decided to stay with the typical bulldog stance.

 

Thanks for the info Rick! It would be cool to find a book about more of the MINI history...and even more recent history as well. I'm just looking for some inspiration/ideas for a design! Where is that picture from?

Edit: Sorry, I can see the pic is from a dart now...but I like it and think I may be able to incorporate it into the MINI!

 

I LOVE IT!
Where, oh where did this come from? I would like to get my hands on a few.

Thanks!

 

I think the information here is pretty good about the MINI/bulldog connection...the low wide stance & also another British icon.

Here's a bit of non-MINI trivia regarding the bulldog. Did you know that the Mack Truck bulldog (on the front of every Mack) is named Cavalier? He is also an english bulldog and I think the story goes something like Mack provided trucks to the British army in WWI and British soldiers said that they were "tough as an English bulldog"...and would also ask for "Mack Bulldogs" when they had a tough job to handle. I think the Bulldog icon itself was actually used for the brand starting in the 1920s sometime.

I love english bulldogs!

 

Those decals are great!

 

Im thinking of actually getting a bulldog just to compliment my MINI

 

Let's get acquainted

 

I love that MINI commercial! I have it stored in my iTunes

 

 

No way! where can I get one of these?

 

I want some too!!

 

You've probably given someone an idea for next year's MOTD now. I'm officially scared .