By the end of the 1960s, serious thought was finally being given to replacing the Mini with someting more refined and practical. This gallery reflects some of the early thinking that pre-dated project ADO74.
The road that led to the launch of the Metro in 1980 was a long and winding one. Early thoughts of simply enlarging and remodelling the original car proved to be a blind alley, while Alec Issigonis' 9X project must go down as one of the greatest amongst many missed opportunities in the history of the company.
Work began in earnest with the advent of project ADO74, and continued with ADO88. Although these two projects were initially aimed at replacing the venerable Mini, they instead evolved into LC8, BL's rather late entry into the supermini market.
A new Mini
By the end of the 1960s, serious thought was finally being given to replacing the Mini with someting more refined and practical. This gallery reflects some of the early thinking that pre-dated project ADO74. |
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The Issigonis 9X
In 1968, Alec Issigonis devised a Mini replacement that was true to his original car's design principles. While 9X was the same length as the Mini, and only barely wider, it provided much-improved passenger accommodation, plus a larger boot-space. |
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ADO74 supermini project
British Leyland first gave serious thought to replacing the Mini in 1972, four years after Issigonis had produced his 9X prototype. Three ideas for a "Mini replacement" concept were forwarded: Ant (mini-sized), Ladybird (supermini-sized) and Dragonfly (three box small car). Ladybird was chosen above the other two, and by the time it was cancelled the following year, several full-size models had been prepared. |
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ADO88 supermini project
This was the second serious attempt by the company to replace the Mini with something a little larger. ADO88 was developed in response to the excessive costs of ADO74 and as a result, the project was kept within strict parameters: costs were defined by John Barber, the packaging by Charles Griffin. |
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ADO88 and LC8 engineering drawings
Exclusive technical drawings of the LC8 and ADO88 are unearthed. |
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LC8: the miniMetro
Project LC8 evolved from ADO88, eventually producing a new supermini 12 years after BLMC first considered the idea. |
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AR6: Metro replacement
AR6 Would have been launched in 1988 to replace the Metro. The car looked to have lots of potential. Like the ADO74 before it, prohibitive production costs in times of crisis would scupper its chances. |
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R6X: Metro replacement II
R6X started out as a plan to give the R6 the handsome set of clothes its up-to-the-minute mechanicals so richly deserved. The bean counters saw it a different way... |
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OMNI Design proposals
OMNI Design was commissioned by Rover to produce supermini designs for the Rover 35. Here are a couple of ideas the company came up with... |
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