Acdelco 24231595 Auto Trans Switch on 2040-parts.com

The Mini is 50 years old today

  Today - 08/05/2009 - is the 50th anniversary of the first Mini rolling off the production line. To celebrate, and for a bit of free publicity (see, we’re playing the game) BMW has shipped the first Mini to roll of the production line back to Cowley to celebrate (picture at the bottom). 621 AOK, a Mini Minor, in Old English White, looks as fresh as the day it rolled off the production line half a century ago (although I wouldn’t mind betting it doesn’t have it’s original sills – they always rusted through – or copes with its original distributor and leads – one splash of rain and the car ground to a halt!).

Porsche Exclusive showcased at museum

The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, will showcase the 25-year history of the Porsche Exclusive program with an exhibit that runs until May 1. This event celebrates the anniversary of the program, which allows customers to have their factory-fresh cars customized and refined to their specifications. The museum will display the Porsche 911 Turbo S 3.6 that was the first Porsche production car to top 186 mph, or the magical 300-kph mark in Europe.

U-turn for wheelchair row taxi firm

A TAXI firm that refused to pick up wheelchair users has had to perform a U-turn. Middlesbrough-based Boro Cars, the largest taxi firm in the North East, had originally said refusing disabled passengers was "morally wrong", but it brought in the policy anyway. The firm insists that minibuses cost drivers more to rent and that the standard fares, which are the only fares that can be charged to disabled passengers, are not high enough to earn operators any money.