The Mini first received Hydrolastic suspension in 1964.
Hydrolastic was a fluid-linked suspension system developed by British engineer Alex Moulton for British Motor Corporation. Instead of relying on separate conventional springs and dampers, each wheel used a fluid-filled displacer unit containing a rubber spring and damping valves. Fluid connections between the front and rear units on each side helped control pitching over bumps.
The system had already appeared on the BMC ADO16, launched as the Morris 1100 in 1962. It reached the ADO15 Mini range in 1964, giving selected Minis a more sophisticated ride than the original rubber-cone suspension. Hydrolastic units were also fitted to related models such as the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet.
The date can be confused with the Mini Moke’s 1964 introduction or with later suspension developments. Hydrolastic was not the same as Hydragas, which BMC and its successors used on later vehicles. Mini applications continued into the early 1970s before the system was phased out of the range.