Sectioned Morris Mini-Minor car, by British Motor Corporation, Cowley, Oxfordshire, England, 1959.

Launched on 26 August 1959, the Mini was born of the need for fuel economy following the Suez Crisis of 1956. It was designed as the smallest possible, civilised, four-seat car. Powered by a four cylinder, 848cc, 37 bhp engine, the car has a four-speed gearbox operating in the engine sump, driving the front wheels through Rzeppa constant velocity joints.

This full-size cutaway from 1959 shows just how successful the Greek-British designer Alec Issigonis was in making this small car feel so spacious inside. The Mini was enormously successful: this is one of more than five million made altogether.