well the plate and matching engine would be worth alot yeah.

you could make a genuine S with those two items.

Yes. There are a lot of restored Minis with brand new plates. A couple of the Mini places will supply them stamped and unstamped.

My Cooper S has a very shabby and faded plate. And that is the way it is going to stay. A 40 year old car should have a 40 year old plate.

I am not too worried that someone will fit this motor and plate to a Mini Deluxe. I am more worried that someone will fit them to a genuine Cooper S. (think about it )

I know the guy selling this, in extremely good nick. Whether it's worth that sort of cash - well the market will decide!

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Noli Illegitimi Carborundum

Does the car that the plate came off still exist? For all we know that car may still be registered.

Good question. If so, we will eventually see two cars registered with the same body number, I guess.............

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Hmmm , won't be the first time that's happened ....

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Personally I think at the end of the day, regardless of the techical differences between ID plates and VIN plates, it is unethical to sell the plate when it could be used to either make a fake Cooper S or rebirth an existing one. It probably wouldn't be so bad if the two items were sold separately, but together just seems questionable.

No Australian Mini was ever fitted with a VIN plate.

The ID plate has nothing to do with the identity of the car. (apart from recording what is already stamped on the car)
You don't need an ID plate to register a car.
You can make a fake Cooper S without an ID plate.
The ID plate was only fitted to make life easier for BMC and the dealers. It was not a legal requirement.

Sorry for having created such a large, heated debate

But my question is, isn't the body number on the actual car above the radiator grille shroud? So even if this plate is real or fake, the body tells all.

If I buy a $20,000 S, i'd want to see dealer signed papers, stamped numbers on the body matching those dealer papers and a dealer ****** receipt!!!!

EDIT: F r i k en is a rude word???

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Not my sale obviously but the ID plate is off a defunct shell and has never been remade which is why it was kept. All was kept for a project but the owner has moved on to other mini projects.

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Noli Illegitimi Carborundum

I agree.
There is way too much of a fad about matching numbers for cars. It has all gone silly.
A Cooper S from 1965 to Mid 1969 has an ID plate which is very easily faked.
From mid 69 to the end of 69 there was no plate at all.
From 70 (Late dec 69) to 71 there was a Compliance plate.
None of these systems will guarantee that a Cooper S is the real deal.


I have all the original paperwork for my Cooper S, I just have to write the numbers in the blank owners handbook. (joking, but it has been done)

Now to find out what colour biros were used by BMC

yes, you can. Plates are being produced in Aus The first batch had a printing style on the body of the plate which wasnt quite right .That I am told is fixed in the most recent batch.Printing of the cars details is correct Numbers and letters are in mirror reverse and the engine no is normal. The problem is the print style for the cars identity is nothing like BMC Aus used . Word is from an ex employee that the machine that printed the plates was sent to the scrap metalers . He remembers the machine and seeing it working
The font was specially developed for BMC and despite best efforts I cant identify it.
Why do I know this ? I have a MK1 S which I have owned since 1968 which was destroyed in a fire The car was reshelled . And yes I have every Rego paper(NSW) from that date

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Mk1 Cooper S
Mini K Rally car

Really I don't think thats quiet the truth,about the orignal owner moving on

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i've remade artwork for the ID plate with a font that is pretty spot on. Think it was a pretty basic font used back in the days when there was only a handful of fonts.