simon k wrote:
winabbey wrote:
simon k wrote:
Probably an ex-police car
Are you able to check if it has the two holes for the ID tag on the leading edge of the front parcel shelf, passenger side? If it's been recovered with vinyl you may be able to feel them from the back.
Also, lowered front seats and possibly reversing lights might be present so would be worth checking.
long way ahead of you Doug - yes, the holes for the ID tag are present as are the twin filament rear indicators. That's the only "hard" evidence, hence why I say "probably"
The seats aren't original, it came with an aftermarket drivers seat (now in my car) and I'm not sure what it had for a passenger seat.
Other (weak-ish) evidence is that it's a monotone colour, I gather the assumption is that the cops wanted them to look like standard minis so didn't option white roofs
All that sounds like solid rather than weak-ish evidence. I'm not aware of any unmarked Cooper S supplied to NSW Police that was duotone, so being monotone is further supporting proof.
Check for sump guard holes (three across the front of the subframe and two each side near the drive shaft holes). Also three holes each side at the top of the front seams for the mesh windscreen, and holes in the driver's side flitch panel below the brake booster for a siren, and maybe holes for a siren switch near the driver.
I would like to know about the reversing lights wiring. What colour and trace wire, and what type of connector at the lights was used? Does it appear to be part of the body loom wrapped in black tape or separate? I have a factory drawing for reversing lights on Mark 1 cars that I'm keen to verify.