I agree with you robertodonnell about the R and S series looking a cut above the pack in Australia, and it certainly was just that. For me, Exner's styling themes always had a hint of "French Chateau" in them, with lots of intricate designs all amalgamated into one structure, which his S-series cars demonstrated. Opposite of that was Bill Mitchell's emerging "sheer" look which reflects the clean horizontal lines that architect Frank Lloyd Wright showcased in his famous "Falling Water" house. What it all says is that car design was much more diverse back in the day, before safety regulation (much needed) put a boundary around what designers could work with. And as for trying to start a design trend with an economy model? Well, only the brave do that. The original Mini is a rare example of that bravery.