I had an 850cc Mini Registered Dec '59..sliding windows that fell out when I slammed the door shut when the window frame rotted.. lol happy days.

Also with the transverse engine the distributor got wet in heavy rain and no more motion. lol

Issigonis originally had the engine the other way round with the distributor at the back. This would have protected it from the elements. It also meant that he had to introduce that intermediate gear to reverse the rotation which got noisy as it became worn. This gave older minis their characteristic 'mini sound' !

That photo is a Morris mini by the way, not an Austin as F.R. have labelled it.