I'll follow this link because i have an early 850 with those same seat brackets, the plastic door kick plates and a few other weird things. My first number is only 5 digits / second number 4538 and thought to be Australian manufacture around Sep 1961.

Only the body exhibits originality the engine has been gone beyond trace and therefore, I dont see the car has any great value. But I need to know before I make a competition car out of it. So 850 buffs please make any comments.

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..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

These early CKD cars are getting scarce. At body number 4538, yours will be in the very first batches of the 850s assembled in Australia. Like you, I bought an 850 with the intention of building a replica but when I discovered its providence decided on an original restoration. My 850 is the second oldest 850 on the register (around car number 1000) which we no longer have access to. Never again will I provide data to people organising registers then once collected, keeping the information to themselves. This has happened to 2 separate registers organised in this Forum.
The Forum should be about sharing information and experiences.

My advice to you would be to find a less rare car to develop a competition car from. BTW the first 5 digit number is the kit number and the 4538 is the Australian car number making it close the the 4000th 850 produced. Not many of these will have survived.

Thanks for the advice willy. it clears up a bit of query rolling around in the brain.

I can take good advice when I hear it and I will review my postion with where I go to with it. Maybe I should sell this old fella for what he's worth and put the funds into an as-built race car??? Deliberations.

THe 850 has a (foreign) 1098cc running engine, No rust at all, slight panel damage only (easy repair) and no interior excepting some old crappy front seats. Any idea of what to ask for it? I mean, based on its exclusivity.

Calling for thoughts from others too...

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..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

I've got 1124 which has an earlier engine number than David's 1037. Body number 50138. I'm missing the seats at the moment (and would like some if anyone has them) but have most of the mechanical items along with the paper speedo surround etc. It was distributed by Reg Hunt Motors. What month of 1960 would it relate to?

I seem to recall they first went on sale Dec 1960. These were the ones with the painted grilles...

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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.

The five digit number is the CKD number. Australian car number is the 4 digit number in your case 1124. Both these numbers are stamped either side of the speedo hole. You may also find the Car Number stamped in the rear floor section directly behind the driver's seat. My car is #1086 and most likely in the same production run as David's and yours. Engines seem to be selected at random during production. X number of kits and x number of engines.

These cars would have been assembled in late 1960, getting ready for pre release publicity and release scheduled for Feb? 1961. Check the various tell tale bits which have date codes eg glass, electrical components. Most of my car's bits date to between June 1960 to September 1960. For instance my glass is 3rd quarter 1960.I guess this makes it late 1960 or early 1961 by the time the kit was shipped and then assembled in Australia.
Production techniques varied dramatically between these early cars and the next generation. Lots and lots of differences. They are quite unique and need saving.

Correct painted white and with white wheels and black rear number plate flap etc etc.

A full-page ad in most national daily newspapers on 23 March 1961 exhibited a small birth notice in the centre of the page. It read:

MORRIS (nee Mini-Minor):
Early this morning at the
British Motor Corporation’s
Sydney plant, after ten
years’ development a sturdy
youngster.
(Name. Morris 850.)
- All wonderful.
Visitors welcome from
tomorrow.

50th Birthday celebrations around the World have been occurring since 2009. The first ever production Mini was called Austin Se7en and not Mini. It rolled off the production line on 26 August 1959 in England.

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..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

Kevin

That is not to say that the 4(?) first dealer issued ones weren't in Dec 60. I do recall Watto doing an article on the dealer in WA's car with the white grille'.

Wayne

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..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

Hi, I have an 850 sold 27/8/62 to R.W Howat,75 Bywong St Toowong Qld.
YMA/2S1/11407 engine number 8AM/U/H343146UK. These details are taken off the origional BMC Warranty that came with the car. The vin plate has been removed,it was on the right hand side of the speedo hole looking at the car from the front. Under the vin plate was the number 14969 above where the vin plate was mounted is the number 15409. This number would have been visible. The body is in very good condition except for the boot ,parcel shelf and under the rear seat. I have another 62 as a donor car and was going to make a "rat rod "out of it. After reading the comments I have changed my mind.

Me too Tomar. In fact i went out and bought another 850 shell that was almost beyond hope to make a competition car out of. Save the little beasts at all costs it seems.

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..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down