hey guys does anyone know at an estimate how many black minis were produced in oz,
is this a rare colour i have a black shell dating 63 64 850 cc ,it also has the origional hangers for a heater box and the origional mesh circular vent on the front panel which i think may be unusual for this model

no idea but a black mini is my favourite colour. Just look awesome.

_________________
1970 Cooper S ex-Bathurst & ATCC
1964 Austin Cooper S ex-Group C race car
1967 Morris Cooper S ex-Group B
1962 Mini Speed sports sedan
1968-71 ex-Peter Manton Shell car

Not many, AFAIR

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

I have one the same

There is a factory black 850 driving around Bundaberg, used to belong to a relative.

_________________
The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.

I have a feeling (with no actual proof) that Black was a normal listed colour for the Minis (850 and Cooper) between 62 and 65.
There is just too many black ones from those years for it to be a special order.

It's interesting to note that none of the BMC and Leyland versions of the paint colour cards I've seen list black as an available colour (see viewtopic.php?f=25&t=66469). However the Berger paint colour cards list black for BMC cars as early as 1962 (I have this page but it's not posted in the sticky, just the 1968 one showing black).

Also, the Body & Trim Specification sheet for the Mark 1 Cooper S dated May 1967 (see below) shows monotone black with either blue, green, red or doeskin trim and carpet as an available colour combination. Black in duotone is not shown.

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

There's an early BMC print advert for the 850 that shows a black model isn't there? In fact I think one even appears in a TV ad. As time goes on into the late 60's I think that's when it becomes much rarer, and black for cars was becoming less fashionable anyway.

_________________

68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

The car on the last page of this brochure looks black to me. - viewtopic.php?f=32&t=73894

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

Yep, thats the one I was thinking of.

....and theres one (or 2) in this classic TV ad for the "new" Mini De luxe.

How many cc's was it James? ...998 my Lady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7Q3cTJUS14

_________________

68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

The Cooper S in this Wheels 4 car comparison appears to be black also...

_________________

68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

If your car has the original heater brackets (properly spot welded to the firewall) I would suspect your car is a Cooper. Worth investigating further. Does it still have the ID Plate?

hi there i have a 1963 morris 850 its all black,
it states that on the ID plate. its never been resparyed, it had an engine bay fire so thats how i came to have it. mine also has a round mesh grille at the front on the drivers side. i dont know if all cars had these fitted but mine doesnt look like its ever had a heater fitted,
im also interested in seeing how many black 850 were made.
i hope this helps you at all
some of the pics of my car

A bit off topic but, my 1963 850 shell also has the heater brackets spot welded to the firewall , they fitted them if you ordered an 850 with a heater ,I have seen quite a few early 850's fitted with cooper type heaters

_________________
1965 Morris 850
1966 Morris Mini Minor
1967 Morris Cooper 'S'
1977 Leyland LS

Mini moke world had that black 850 sports they most probally still have it with the price they were asking

Still there http://miniandmokeworld.com.au/cars_and ... t-genuine/