When did reversing lights first appear as a production item on Australian Minis?
I purchased an early MK II Cooper S new back in 1969 and I don't remember it having reversing lights, but the October 1970 MK II S I now own does have this feature (i.e. switch on the front of the gearbox and twin filament turn indicator bulb-holder and bulbs).

The reversing light switch is included in the Leyland Australia Mini Series Parts Catalogue (PUB 1056M) that covers the MK II S (switch part #34887, plunger #22G351 and washer #2K7914) so I'm guessing it was just before the MK II gave way to the Clubman (i.e. 1970 or '71). I recently purchased a Lucas NOS reverse switch on eBay, although its part number is different (#39889A). Interestingly, in the Electrical section of PUB 1056M it doesn't show the twin filament bulb holder, only the single filament one for turn indicators.

Several things point to my current 1970 S being an ex-NSW Police vehicle which specified reversing lights as part of SPO 41 dated Sept 1970, including a new wiring harness for two-speed wipers and reversing lights. I'm trying to determine whether my reversing lights were fitted as Police specification or simply standard production items.

we believe my dad's '68 MK1 was ex-police, and has reverse lights fitted, and integrated into the loom as if it was factory. The rear indicator lamps are twin filament... so I think the police specified them earlier than SPO 41, even if it wasn't written down.

Dunno whether they were standard for MK2's at any point, my 7/70 doesn't have them, but a year before production ceased could mean anything.

Someone will correct me, but clubmans only ever had the reversing light switch on the gearstick housing, so the switch on the front of the box may never have been a standard production item... there certainly aren't many around

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The Pub 1056M parts book dates from right on the change from Mk1 to Mk2. around mid 1969.

From what I can gather reversing lights became standard in the Mini Clubman.
They were an option before that. (I have a reference to them as an option in 1966)

But I would be almost certain that a S with reversing would be a Police spec car.

The switch on the box was fitted to the Princess Vanden Plas 1100 from around 1963/64. So they were around a long time before the Cooper S Police cars. I would bet that the switch is a fairly common Lucas part.
I am not certain about the early Clubman with the remote gearbox but the rod change box has the switch on the remote unit.

Thanks skssgn

I think the Clubman difference in the switch location is because of the rod-change gearbox versus the earlier Mini's remote extension gearbox. Out of interest, the switch on my 1970 S replaces the reverse gear detent spring and plunger cover that is accessible from the front of the gearbox housing on the passenger side. According to SPO 41 the turn/reverse bulbs are 12V 21/21W, not the more common 21/6W as used for tail/brake, so reverse is as bright as the turn indicators, and turning whilst reversing gives you a whopping 42W.

A bit more background for anyone interested.

The Mini Workshop Manual TP832C (Black Book) page n-11 Section 7 (direction indicator lamps) says "Some vehicles incorporate reversing light in the top compartment (amber lens), with these lamps the bulb is a double filament 21/21W with locating pins suitably set to prevent fitment to the lower compartment". In other words, they want to avoid a 21W tail light!
The wiring diagram on pages n-20/21 shows the reversing light switch and rear lamp assemblies, and a footnote: "Reversing lights fitted to special order only". Maybe this is police special order only. Are there any SPO's other than NSW Police that specify reversing lights?

I have a 72 1098 Clubman and it has the switch fitted in the gearbox, but no wires and the tail lights are single filament. The 71 GT has the switch and is wired.

Apart from the GT, it probably came standard with the Clubman S model.

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1971 Clubman GT - Jet Red
1980 Mini 1000 - Bold As Brass
1967 Riley Elf - Red/White
2002 MINI Cooper - BRG/White
2005 MINI Cooper - BRG/White
2022 MINI Cooper SE - BRG/White

I just found that reversing lights became compulsory on 1/72 with ADR1.

A copy of the ADR1 can be found on Simon's Mini website:

http://www.morrismini.com/adr/01.pdf

(delete the '01.pdf' suffix to see the directory for all ADR's)