San Francisco car shop repairs a MINI

Jake Allen, body technician at Modern Bench, says nothing spectacular separates the MINIs' repairs from that of other vehicles. "Like any other British or European car, parts not commonly used can slow down the process," Allen says. "But other than the size, a MINI is just another car."

The British Motor Corporation produced the Mini from 1959 until 2000. It's regarded an icon of the 1960s in Europe, much like the status of the Volkswagen Beetle in America.

The new MINI brand name, launched in April 2001, is capitalized to distinguish it from its predecessor, the Mini. The MINI Cooper is rated the most fuel-efficient mini-compact car by the United States Department of Energy. Go to fueleconomy.gov for more information.