This thread has interesting and thought-provoking discussion about re-birthing and replica creation but we need to remember the intent of this Cooper S register. Its primary aim is to replicate BMC's non-existent new vehicle production records. It's effectively a snapshot of Australian produced Cooper S's when they first took to the road. It is not meant to show the current status of the vehicle. Whether a car has been officially or unofficially 'written-off' or is undergoing a long term restoration is not being captured.

The register will hopefully assist car owners or prospective purchasers in verifying the original configuration and likely authenticity of a vehicle by enabling a comparison of their car's actual data with what's shown in the register (if present), and the data for adjacent vehicles in the register.

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

I think the register would potentially allow for the rematching of original engines to cars. I know of a few cars around and the location of the original engine in other cars. Who know's both owners may agree to re-unite them.

That might be a bit difficult to achieve with the owners of said vehicles being unknown.

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

I guess it would still be easier than the current position. That said, it would confirm the current existence and the owner seeking to make contact could add a post requesting a PM from the other owner?

Thanks Watto and Ryan for your comments. And my apology to others that I havent checked back as quickly as some have expected.

I'm a >40 year Mini enthusiast with 5 cars and a special interest in CooperS. In particular concourse as some will know and primarily i organise the MinisInTheGong Show 'n' Shine events with help from others like Ryan. I have in the past few months helped some people to correctly identify valid cars both purchasers and one seller who had one advertised as a Deluxe of all things. The better the list is the more we identify rogue cars and erroneous details like engine swaps.

My recent discussion with Watto and others with lists is completely working towards improving what we have and eventually giving BMC Experience what we contribute. I too recognise the security aspects and hence invited emails to a private address. I noted that no location or person would be identified on this list and reassert this promise.

On a final note in this post - have a think about it - if you email me with no contacts I have no idea where your car is and really who you are; and I also note the comment about bonnets up at Show n Shines. Details are more 'public' there than here. I only ask that no hoaxers make submissions.

Thanks in anticpation to honest contributors to the list.

Wayne

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

thanks Wayne



so if my car is already on Watto's list, do you still want/need it?

I was just going to ask the same question.

I would also like to know if the "list" when finally ready will be available to us here or will it be a BMC Experience exclusive Please forgive me if this has already been asked or covered elsewhere

Cheers
Steve

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

Simon

Validity / verification is paramount but I beleive no matter how hard we try the list will never be near 100%. Perhaps wait for Watto to re-visit and comment. I'm ambivalent.

My good friend in ACTMCC has added to the c.2000 list over the years and I have placed all his MCS IDs in brown text in adding to the excel spreadsheet I've worked up.

My intention is that all info gathered as a result of this call on Ausmini / MITG website will be added in separate coloured text to assist where /when the details were derived. The MCCNSW / Watto list that I have is all in black text. If for no other reason a form of trace. I have not discussed this with anyone until now.

Thanks also to Phillb for the good level of support from another reliable bloke. (But i do keep hassling Phill that his father was the designer or the wind-up windows. Those who have totally rebuilt them will understand my hassling!)

Anyone who emails me I'm happy to elaborate more than on our open chat site.

Cheers Wayne

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

Steve

I was preparing an answer to Simon when you post came in and didnt see it then. I'm not flash with the system.

Fair question. I'm not so guarded about distribution of the list. Watto and I discussed this. The earlier its released the more variations will result. I note he has said he wants to hold it up his sleeve until he has 1000 or so and then publish the list. My goal is to make the call and get the numbers up sooner than later.

If you feel safer about security then please send Watto the details of your car if he doesn't have it.

Refresh email address: [email protected]

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

The idea of the list is to compile a history of Cooper S cars ,mostly for the information of mini enthusiasts . There will be no mention of names,locations,cars in paddocks or sheds,written off cars,cars under restoration, etc etc etc

Doug (Winabbey) has offered to come over and spend some time with me collecting what I have in a couple of lists into one list and see if we can get something happening.

I think that's a great idea and have suggested he come over after I get Issue 2 of BMCE off to the printers, so that would mean mid-next month.

Assuming we get it all sorted, and it could take more than a day, then it could still be a few months until I am satisfied enough with it to make it openly available.

Perhaps the best situation would be for the list to be available on ausmini with the availability for people to add to the list - but it would need to be protected from people adding false or deliberately misleading information, or changing what is already there, or otherwise tampering with the list in a way that is not intended. I don't know the answer there, but perhaps a moderator could be appointed to look after the list and only that person could have access to it to make changes. Then anyone wanting to add to the list or correct something already on it that is incorrect, would have to go through the moderator. That would mostly eliminate hoax posts simply because of the additional effort required to get it on the list.

As for wanting a BMCE exclusive for the release of the info, to be totally honest that would be my preferred option, but realistically, I don't know if the list would ever be complete enough for me to feel confident in releasing what info I have. Then again, maybe it is something I could look at in the magazine as a "living document" that could be updated if and when necessary. Food for thought, anyway.

So, happy to hear everyone's opinion.

Cheers,
Watto.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

I think you should mention it again in your magazine, ie wanting to collate a list of cooper s identifications etc.

I dont recall reading it for a long while.

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good idea Brenton.

Watto.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

Sounds good all round Watto

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

I would say I agree with Rob 1970 that it could be a double edged sword. There are advantages and disadvantages to these details being out there. I would agree some details be not displayed. The example above is a good one, would be an awkward situation.

Building a fake around an ID plate is another known practice esp. in vehicles worth large sums eg Torana XU-1 or GT Falcon. As we have seen loose plates appear on eBay ect from time to time would keeping a note of this sort of info (privately by a the moderator) be an advantage?

Would it be worth having a email contact attached to cars in the list if owners are open to being contacted?



Hey Hey, my old man can't take all the blame, actually the Aussie windups were a team effort by a very clever bunch of Aussie Body Hardware engineers at Zetland. In fact a fellow by the name of Chris Rogers, who my Dad worked very closely with, really should get most of the credit for the overall design.

Wayne has ribbed me a number of times about how complex and difficult they are to disassemble but I remember my late father was so familier with them he could dissemble/reassemle them with his eyes closed.

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