I was looking at Australian Production Mini TP 759 A Electrical System diagram and saw there was reversing lights.

Does anyone know when the Cooper S starting using reverse lights?

The wiring diagram in the later Australian produced workshop manual says reversing lights is an option, not standard on the Cooper S. The first, and I believe only use on round-nose Minis was on the cars supplied to NSW Police. Other than that they weren't used until ADR 1 mandated them on all vehicles from January 1972.

https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/mot ... _adrs.aspx

They were introduced into production on the Clubman range with change points as detailed in this Parts Amendment Advice.

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

My 3/1970 Cooper S has the switch fitted to the gearbox but i cant find the wiring for it
The wiring looks a bit fiddled with only as in someone has re-taped it and maybe the wires are hidden

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1970 MK2 Cooper S

Do your tail lights have the reverse light mod?

The factory loom will have a green wire from the switch to the fuse block A4 and a light green with brown trace from the switch to the body junction (joining main and rear looms), then the same back to the rear lights.

As gtogreen1969 has suggested, check whether your rear lamps (two screw AL136) have twin-filament bulb holders instead of single-filament in the turn indicator position.

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

I will have a look

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1970 MK2 Cooper S

Does this mean all the 1969 police cars had reversing lights?

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Life advice
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The reverse light Special Production Order (SPO25) was specified for all NSW Police Cooper S's, but possibly also applied to sedans and vans used by Police as station cars and escort vehicles, so in theory the answer is yes.

SPO16 Lowered Front Seats applied to all Minis, and SPO26 Racing Disk Pads only to the Cooper S, naturally.

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

I had work done to my brakes a few years back & found out they were a police special order. The car has a racing cam but only the 11/4 SUs. No reverse lights. Do the seats have a number on them?

_________________
Life advice
Don't wait for the storm to pass
Learn to dance in the rain
OR
Go drive your MINI

Up to Sept 1970 all S's supplied to NSW Police were stock standard, except for the three SPO's I mentioned above. No numbers on the seats, just the visible weld.

Your brake mechanic was having you on regarding special brakes. They were absolutely stock standard Cooper S.

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

Although the SPO41 cars had different brake pads to the stock cars? Those would be long gone by now though!
viewtopic.php?p=993831#p993831

Another good post by winabbey about reversing lights here
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=91761&p=1018723&hilit=spo41#p1018723

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It was actually the brake booster. The story goes like this When the parts were ordered for it, the suppliers (Coffs Harbour) delivered what they would normally supply for this car but it was incorrect. All the details were then sent by the old BMC mechanic (who did the brakes) to the supplier who advised it was a SPO. It’s just interesting looking at the history of the car. I know it had a four year restoration of which Ron Williams from Tenterfield was involved. Craig Watson recommended I speak to him prior to purchasing the car to see If he knew the car as it had been in his local area. My other classic cars had been MGs 70&71. Ron gave me the details I needed to know prior to handing over my $. The respray was carried out by Walcha smash repairs in 1997 & it has stood the test of time to date. She has attended the Mini Muster prior to my ownership & I had planned on making the trip this year but ended up in hospital instead.....oh joy! This forum is fantastic with so many knowledgeable enthusiasts, I appreciate your help

_________________
Life advice
Don't wait for the storm to pass
Learn to dance in the rain
OR
Go drive your MINI

What is the serial number on the booster? Originally your car would have had the same booster as all the MK1 S cars not the PBR one currently fitted. The Mk2 S used the "Lockheed 5 1/2" from car 501 to 1613. The "PBR VH44-J" started at car 1614 in March 1970. I am not aware of any other boosters used. Nothing detailed in the SPO's either.
Sounds like they put a different booster on during the rebuild. Maybe a different VH44 because they couldn't find a J.

Sorry for the thread hijack

I will have a look to see if I can find it. Unfortunately, I have moved & lost a few boxes of important literature including my Mini file

_________________
Life advice
Don't wait for the storm to pass
Learn to dance in the rain
OR
Go drive your MINI

The serial number was on a label, probably long gone now.