The Mini Cooper is an automobile inspired by the original Mini designed by Frank Stephenson and manufactured by the British Motor Corporation between 1959 and 2000. Its well-known short wheelbase, wheels-in-the-corners, sportiness and fun-to-drive individuality remained when BMW started building it in 2001. The Mini Cooper’s patented low center of gravity eliminates leaning, making it one of the best-handling cars on the road.

During the 1960s, the Mini – with its front-wheel-drive space-saving design that enabled 80% of its floor space to be used to passengers and luggage – was a British icon. The Mini Classic sold for about $785 in the United States, but emissions policies forced it off the market in 1968. Although originally marketed as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, the Mini made an international name for itself by 1969. Austin marketed the Mini Cooper again during the 1980s.

The Mini Cooper has always been incredibly impressive in stock form. BMW, which brought the Mini Cooper back to America in 2002, has taken that and engineered a quick, agile automobile that gets great gas mileage in tight, city driving as well as out on the open highway. The Mini Cooper’s four-cylinder engine generates 115 horsepower and gets 28/36 miles per gallon.

There are precious few cars that can jump through subways and maneuver down stairwells, but the Mini Cooper did just that during the 2003 remake of the “Italian Job.” The Mini Cooper’s thrilling car chase maneuvers, along with its all-star cast, made the movie a blockbuster.

The Mini Cooper’s popularity has made it a prize among car modification fanatics. Thanks to used car parts and foreign auto parts suppliers like All Import Auto Parts, purchasing auto parts online is the best, most economical route to take. These sites offer salvage parts, rebuilt auto parts, used auto parts, replacement car parts, cheap auto parts and junkyard auto parts. The main thing to remember when ordering parts online is to make sure you get legitimate Mini Cooper parts that fit your automobile’s exact year and model.