What's standard? I have a 03/70 Cooper S which has no cut out on the parcel shelf and a 09/70 Mini K which has the cutout looks factory. In one of the Ausmini resto blogs I noticed a 69 Cooper S which had the speaker cutout Confused.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S

I don't really know but could it be to do with where the body parts were made? Australia or UK. Could a radio be ordered from factory or were they dealer fitted?

By the late `60s all body panels were made here, not UK.
I can't remember if my 1970 `Matic had a factory speaker hole 25 years ago, as it has two 6" holes in there now.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

My late 68 S has the speaker holes hacked into it so they mustn't have been there already. Now I need to find a replacement parcel shelf without the holes or try and get them repaired.

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Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

Could it be that the MK2 S never had the cutout due to the insulation material that was fitted under the shelf, they were obviously concerned about cabin noise, would think that the hole would increase that noise factor in the cabin.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S

Flute I have the 70 K shelf with the factory oval speaker cutout on the N/S in excellent condition you are welcome to it but i will have to cut it out if you want it. I'm in East Gippsland coud get it to Melb's East.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S

There was nothing special about the S body, apart from the few altered details throughout the car (Obvious or not) which did not need a specifically custom panel as a base. So the panels are shared.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks Mick, but I go back to my original question why has my matching number March 1970 Cooper S have no speaker cutout and my October 1970 Mini K have a speaker cutout both have the original parcel shelf. Could this just be the idiosyncrasy of BMC Aust'.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S

Are you sure it wasn't someone else has cut the hole?

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You can't drive your shares on the weekend...

Back then the Astor Diamond dot radio was a BMC dealer offered accessory which was supplied with a single (no stereo back then) oval 9x5 inch or there about's speaker so one would assume the hole to be factory.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S

I can't say Darrell. There must have been a changeover in 69. I'm not sure when.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Our 1970 "burstproof" K has the single speaker oval hole.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

My unmolested September 1970 MK II S has one small hole (approx. 4 cm) pressed from above in the centre of the rear parcel shelf - no speaker hole.

The BMC Australia engineering drawing for the Cooper S parcel shelf shows an oval hole on the driver's side with four small holes to attach a speaker. It's not clear when this was introduced.

There is a different part number for the S parcel shelf because it has the tabs for the fuel tank breather pipes spot-welded under it. The end result may be that a shelf with the speaker hole was able to be introduced on non-S vehicles earlier because there was still stock of the S version (without the hole) waiting to be used up. This would create a staggered implementation into production.

One thing is for sure. There was no speaker hole in the van rear parcel shelf.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Thanks for the offer Darrell, very kind but I want mine without any speakers ie. back closer to original. Doug mentioned the tabs too which I forgot about so unless I find an S one it will be better to repair mine. Cheers.

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Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

Thanks winabbey that's exactly what I have one hole in the middle was getting worried thinking the worst as one does can sleep tight tonite.

Sorry Flute forgot about the breather tags.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S