Once the British-made Mini had shown how large the market was for compact four-seater cars with small engines, manufacturers worldwide stepped in to satisfy demand. With safety legislation becoming increasingly influential, the minis grew into superminis, which were larger, but still triumphs of packaging. Virtually...
The Mini revolutionized small cars in the 1960s, so in the 1970s manufacturers battled for a slice of its market with their own interpretations of the ideal small car. Almost all kept the Mini’s front-engine layout and added a hatchback, but not all were transverse,...
Small cars made great strides in the 1970s. Hatchback bodies were used almost universally, making little cars more useful and adaptable than they had ever been before. Many manufacturers adopted front-wheel drive, which brought with it improvements in space utilization, allowing for more passenger and...
“I’d sooner die than imitate other people . . . That’s why we had to work so hard, because we didn’t imitate.” SOICHIRO HONDA, FOUNDER OF HONDA MOTOR COMPANY The 1970s was as turbulent for the car industry as it was for society and the world economy at...