The basic design came from Sir Alec Issigonis, a British subject from Greece, in 1959. To that John Cooper, of racing fame souped up the engine and it was so well received by the B.M.C. (British Motor Company) that they produced it in quantity, giving it the name of Morris Mini Cooper, and therein lies the saga of the Monte Mini. Initially, the Morris Mini was a comfortable, compact, about the town, automobile, that was easy to drive and park. It could carry four large English gentlemen with ease or four rather stout English Women. It has a top speed of about 87 mph, but it could out perform the great Porsches.