Just a quick question.
What tyre pressures should I be running? I have 165/70 R10 Bridgestones front
and 165/70 R10 Yokohamas rear.

What are the facts about Minis in Australia. I have heard that they were imported in a knock down form and re assembled here. I have also been told they were made in New Zealand and shipped over. Whats the truth? Why did the English Minis have concealed door hinges for ages but they never made their way this side of the world. Any other differences between Aussi and Pommi Minis?
Just curious....Cheers, Mark.

I belive our mini's were made here every bit. we enver changed our hinges cause they didn't rust out as quickly as they did in pomie land. (as I understand it)

The KIWIS are the ones that got CKD kits from UK.

Apart from a few early build 850s in 1960, ours were all made here from good Oz steel..

We had windup windows from 1965- long before the Poms did, we got seatbelts sooner too.

<edit> we got no Kiwi cars imported, we sold them some of ours though (not many).

_________________
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.

off topic but whats a 1959 850 worth out of interest?

_________________
lookin for another clubby

Much sought after for racing- they are reputedly lighter because some panels are thinner!
But...
Are you sure it's a 1959- Mini wasn't released here until late 1960... I had one.

Wat's it worth? Whatever you can get- depends heaps on originality and condition.

_________________
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.

As far as I know only the early models were deliverd in CKDand later supplemented the growing local production. But throughout the 60's a large percentage of panels and equipment were still imported from the UK. Probably no 60's mini was completely Australian made.

When they released the Mini K, it had over 85% local content. All panels were local, some but not all electrical stuff (bloody Lucas!) was imported.

850 had some imported panels (bootlid?) but I'm not aware of any imported panels since the change to windup windows in `65.
I didn't work there (Zetland) but had 2 friends who did.

<edit> re the other part of the question- Cooper S (first Mini with radials) ran 28F/26R.
I run 30F/28R on the road, and 36F/34R on the track, with 165/70-10 Yoko A008s.

_________________
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.

we also have discussed that

matic bodies were made here,
matic engines were imported from the UK (Oz couldnt be bothered making whole new machines to assemble automatics), thats why on most imports, the engine-number plate had been removed and some dodge with ever-so-careful hands stamped the platform

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

ALL Minis sold in Australia have that silly tin Pommy engine # plate removed. Oz law insists it be stamped into the block.

If you buy a new short motor or block (I know this `coz I bought 2) it has NO number. You take the car to your local fuzz, and they inspect it, to be sure, to be sure.. then they allocate a `Police' number, and direct you to `dodgey bros' round the corner who will stamp it in..
This number takes the form (eg on mine): N661771P where `N' is state, `66' is year, `1771' is their allocated number, `P' is Police.
This system is used in all states- I know Q is Qld, V is Vic, etc.

_________________
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.

Excellent info Kev, thanks mate.

Thanks for the info.
So I can safely put 'MADE IN AUSTRALIA' across rear window then.

yeh its deffinately a 1959 , was imported from south africa $2500 ono

_________________
lookin for another clubby

Yeh didn't think we got them THAT soon. Mine was Dec 1960, painted grille, had factory fitted Pommie tube seats with brackets spot welded on top of the x-member. Strange.. the x-member also had the tapped holes for the normal brackets.
They musta had some seats to get rid of..

_________________
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.

A few facts from BMC Australia (source Pedr Davis):

June 1960 first Australian prototypes running
January 1961 Australian production started
March 1961 Morris 850 launched in Australia
March 1965 First Mini with wind up windows released (Deluxe!)
March 1969 Mini K launched with 80% local content (highest until that time)


There were a few English Mini's imported privately and by dealers before 1960 but only very limited numbers. All pre 1961 cars are English manufacture (unless rare prototypes) and have the features of the English cars.

The early 850's had many similarities with their English brothers but slowly moved further and further away as they were developed.

HRS