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NEW: The Clubman 1275 GT.
Image by: Austin-rover.co.uk |
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SPECIAL: Commemorative 20th anniversary Mini.
Image by: Mini Special register |
Throughout the 70s the Mini held on to its fashion appeal but British Leyland (BL) didn’t do much to help it.
In an attempt to modernise the Mini BL introduced the Clubman and the Clubman 1275GT at the end of the 60s. Leyland felt the Mini design was due for a facelift to keep it fashionable and in line with the corporate appearance of their other models of the day.
The Clubman was launched in a wave of publicity using Twiggy and Lulu to promote the new cars and convince buyers that the Mini was still credible. But the clubman never took off in the same was as its predecessor and demand for the traditional round nose model continued throughout the decade.
To meet demand BL had to keep producing the round nose Mini. In an attempt to modernise the brand BL began producing different models of round-nose Mini, a trend that would continue through the eighty's. The first limited edition Mini Saloon appeared in 1976 shortly followed by the Special 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Mini in 1979 to mark 20 years of the Mini.
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INSIDE: The internal working of the Clubman.
Image by: Austin-rover.co.uk
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DELIVERY: A Leyland truck delivers some Minis.
Image by: Austin-rover.co.uk |
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