The most iconic car ever made by every major car-maker | Autocar

At least historically, if not financially, the Mini was the crowning achievement of the British Motor Corporation. In fact, it was never branded BMC (because nothing was) but instead wore the badges of Austin, Morris, Innocenti, Authi and, in three-box saloon form, Riley and Wolseley, though it was eventually sold simply as Mini.

Less than a decade into its production life, which began in 1959, it was three things at once: everyday family transport (that was much more comfortable and safer than the microcars it largely supplanted), a car celebrities wanted to be seen in and a ferocious competitor in racing, rallying and almost every other form of motorsport. It was already seriously dated by 1980, but was so well loved that it remained on sale for a further 20 years, finally disappearing shortly after it was placed second behind the Ford Model T in the one-off Car of the Century list.