Supermini car - 50s and 60s. In Europe, the first supermini is considered to be the Italian Fiat 500 of 1957, and the design was further popularized by the British Austin Mini two years later. The Mini was the first successful mass production mini-car in Europe, going on sale in 1959 as the Austin Seven or Morris Mini Minor. It was the only major choice in the mini-car sector until the Rootes Group launched its rear-engined Hillman Imp four years later. Around the same time, an Italian rival - the Fiat 500 ...

See also:

Supermini car, Supermini car - History, Supermini car - 50s and 60s, Supermini car - 70s - oil crisis, Supermini car - 80s, Supermini car - 90s, Supermini car - 2000s

Read more here: » Supermini car: Encyclopedia II - Supermini car - History