A THOUSAND different Minis roll off the production lines at the Cowley plant every day.

The parts are delivered to the BMW-owned factory on a precise timetable before each model of the modern classic is made to order step-by-step.

And now, members of the public who have wondered of the magic going on behind the scenes at Plant Oxford don't need a golden ticket to get an insight - instead they can read a manual telling them how the Mini is built from start to finish.

For the first time, motoring publisher Haynes had launched a manual showing how the 4,500-strong workforce have built the Mini since its introduction to the city in 2001.

The manual, written by motoring journalist Chris Randall with input from Mini in Oxford, tracks all aspects of the manufacturing process, from the initial design through every stage of assembly.

And the book also features the workers who spend everyday along each production line.

Frank Bachmann, managing director of Mini Plant Oxford said the manual gave a 'fascinating' and 'in-depth' look at how a Mini is built.

He added: "No single production process is any more important than another. All off them, as you'll read about in the book, are essential to get right in order to produce a high quality car like Mini.

"But, if I had to say what favourite part off it all is, it's seeing a finished car rolling off the assembly line.

"That is a special sight - no matter how often you see it."

The Oxford Mail was granted exclusive access to the plant last year to give an insight of the thinking behind the modern classic.

The plant has three main workshops - Body in White, Paint Shop and Assembly, which are staffed round the clock to keep production going.

The process of manufacturing starts when body panels arrive from Plant Swindon and engines from Plant Hams Hall, near Birmingham.

The body panels are joined to produce a 'body in white'. It's here where the process of welding 435 parts to create the range of three door, five door, John Cooper works and Clubman Minis starts.

About 1,200 robots worth £20,000 each fill the majority of floor - the size of 14 football pitches. There, 650 workers begin to forge the car's outer frame by joining metal panels.

The chassis then progresses to the paint shop, before being married with engine, suspension, interior panels and trim to produce the finished article.

Roughly one model is produced at the factory every minute and last year plant bosses celebrated building their three millionth car.

The book 'Building a Mini' goes through the history of the car and plant, the designing of the car, the manufacturing process, the departments in the Cowley factory and the future.

In July this year the Mail revealed BMW decided that the new electric Mini will be built in Cowley from 2019.

Mr Bachmann added: "As well as explaining how this iconic car is built, the book also gives a real insight in to the people who work here and into what life on a modern car manufacturing plant is actually like."

J. Haynes, chief executive of Haynes Publishing Group, said: "This book has been a big project, but a joy to produce."

Mr Haynes also thanked the plant staff for allowing the team into their work place to tell their story.

The 'Building a Mini Manual is priced at £22.99 and available from haynes.co.uk.