the 1978 leyland MINI shorty is a playful study in automotive form

a study in subtraction

The iconic and already compact 1978 MINI has been cut down even further to create this Shorty, a version that reads more like a design study than a conventional car. Small, roofless, and sharply reduced, it’s been edited with clear intent. Rather than a novelty, it comes across as a reconsideration of the MINI’s proportions and presence. While the result is a visual anomaly, its compressed volume feels precise. What’s missing is just as carefully chosen as what remains.

The Shorty reads like a study in subtraction. The classic MINI’s body, already tight and economical, is pulled inward until there’s barely more than a central mass to speak of. However, nothing about it feels messy. The cuts are clean. The stance is measured. The revised silhouette sits squarely on its Minilite-style wheels.

images courtesy Car and Classic

reimagining an iconic 1978 Leyland MINI

Since acquiring the 1978 Leyland MINI Shorty a year ago, the car’s current owner has brought it back into view through a series of careful updates before listing it for sale (find the listing here). These include reupholstered seats, new carpets, fresh tires, and a full suite of replacement chrome, from the grille to the bumpers. The paintwork is solid, with a clean gloss that highlights the body’s altered geometry. Of course, these interventions don’t try to restore the car to its original 1978 state. Rather, they reflect its current identity, shaped by modification and intent.

The car was originally built twelve years ago before it was left stored in a barn for a decade. It carries evidence of both activity and long stillness. At just over 50,000 miles, it suggests a life that’s been interrupted and resumed. Mechanically, it retains its period-correct transverse inline-four engine and manual gearbox. The seller notes it drives well, though some minor adjustments, like a new handbrake cable, may be needed.

this 1978 Leyland MINI Shorty is listed for sale

the shorty: More Than a Novelty

While the proportions are clearly unconventional, the design doesn’t aim for novelty alone. It reads as a reductionist exercise, asking how far can the core idea of the MINI be pushed without collapsing its function? In this case, that balance is preserved. The Shorty still works as a car, but with an added layer of clarity. Its utility has been distilled to something near-essential.

As it stands now, the car feels like a sculptural object with road presence rather than a historic collectible. That doesn’t mean it sacrifices usability. The updates suggest it’s ready to be driven, though likely with a different purpose — less about daily use, more about context and contrast. Placed alongside contemporary vehicles, it reveals how much volume and visual excess have crept back into car design.

the car began as a standard MINI before being significantly shortened

its roof has been removed, giving it an open and stripped-down appearance

the current owner has refreshed the car with new upholstery and chrome details