July 19, 2005:
Crash! MINI vs dump truck
I was recently given these photos by Joel at MINI Peabody; they were taken by a MINI owner after her car was viciously attacked by a huge dump truck!
This picture makes it very clear that the dump truck attempted to drive up and over the top of the MINI - you can see the deep tire track / indentation running up the bonnet, stopped thankfully by the solid frame of the passenger cell:
What is astonishing to me is the strength of the MINI. Yes it “gaves it life” and totally collapsed at the front, but the passenger area is apparently untouched; this picture shows the severe deformation at the front (including wheels buckled sideways by the weight of the dump truck), yet from the door frame back, everything looks solid:
The owner gave these photos to Joel while ORDERING HER REPLACEMENT MINI at MINI Peabody - both she and I are apparently impressed by the little car 
(many more pics in the Gallery; thanks Leslie for permission to post them, and Joel for passing them on)
Josh Wardell (2005/07/19 @ 11:22 pm)
Amazing! I’ve seen some impressive crunches during my visits up to Sublime–and Julian restores them back to good as new. But I don’t think this will be one of them. Look how the rims actually split due to the weight!
Aqualung (2005/07/20 @ 9:32 am)
Amazing testimony to the structural integrity of the MINI! Reminds me of a Volvo dealer down here who took a similarly totaled Volvo and put it out front w/ a sign “works as advertised”. Mebbe MoP should do the same!
chris
RB (2005/07/20 @ 10:48 am)
WOW! Now that’s impressive. The doors seem to have no buckling.
Hope the lady was not badly hurt.
The MoP boys should take note of Chris’ comment, I think that’s a great idea.
RB
Theo (2005/07/20 @ 11:07 am)
What amazes me is the (relatively) untouched cabin! What terror Leslie must have felt just before the accident and what thanks she must have given afterwards.
Anyone who thinks MINIs are unsafe should view these photos. I hope you don’t mind, Ian, but I have posted a link to this page over in the NAM lounge.
Theo
j/c (2005/07/20 @ 3:52 pm)
Whoah! That’s one mean crunch!
Any news on what consequences the dump truck driver might’ve paid?
Ian Cull (2005/07/21 @ 8:52 am)
Sorry to say I have little knowledge of the aftermath - I believe the lady suffered no more than some injury to her right leg and I know nothing about the truck driver.
Deborah Sutliff (2005/07/26 @ 11:11 am)
About Volvo… you can go to their website & read “Volvo saved my life” stories as well as submit your own. I’m a former Volvo owner and a big factor in buying a MINI for me was the sense of safety I got from the design and features.