1974 INNOCENTI MINI 1300 EXPORT is available now at classified from Car and Classic Classifieds

In the late 1950s, the expansion of the ‘bubble car’ market in the UK prompted the British Motor Corporation (BMC) to revise the concept of the compact car. The design of a smaller, four-seat fuel-efficient city car was assigned to Alec Issigonis and in 1959 the Mini, a triumph of British engineering, was born. The success of the Mini soon reached Italy, although export difficulties, due to high costs, were a problem. The solution was an agreement made with Innocenti, which handled mass production on commission. Italian production of the Mini Cooper 1300 Export began in February 1973 and ended in January 1975, by which time some 28, 153 units had been produced. 

Compared to the British originals, the Italian version was better finished, with attention to interior details and more accessories. In addition, the boot lid was modified to accept the Italian licence plate, which differed in size from the British one.