ausmini :: View topic - Help to identify 850

My car has a Aust plate on it,type-yma2s1 car no.9\54397\1037 eng.no.8amu h 114264. It has no. 49903 and no. 1037 stamped on firewall.

My mate had an early 850 with welded suspension cones, don't know the numbers off it because it got crushed between a mercedes driven by a 17 year old and a brick wall :cry:

I have been told by a couple of people that my car may be a Austin body that was badged as a Morris from the measurements.

the engine number is 875 before that of my January 1961 pommy estate 8AM-U-H/115139. Aussie Minis were released in March '61 but assembly began back in January '61 (and obviously it would have taken a while for the parts to be shipped here), so I'd say it is one of the early Aussie 850s.

Tim

the engine number in my 850 is 8AM-U-H/115131 - So close!!!!

wild_willy wrote:

the engine number in my 850 is 8AM-U-H/115131 - So close!!!!

How cool is that! Notice that Garry's Countryman had a higher engine number than mine, but was built a week earlier.

Austin Countrymen and Morris Travellers all came off the Longbridge production line along with the Austin sedans, but UK Morris sedans were built on the Cowley production line. It would be very interesting to know which production line the early CKD kits that came out to Australia came off. They may really have been Austins.

Tim

Questions:

What type of holes have you got in your rain gutters, pressed half moons, Drilled holes or rectangular slotts?

What type of floor has it got, ie no sills and small front pressing.

What type of front seat mounts?

What type of kick panels on the front doors and how many holes in the sliding glass?

Garry

I am wondering though if they didn't start the AUstralian body numbers at 1001 instead of the later accepted 501 and this (and the first 50 or so ???) might have been sent as a completed shell so the local panel guy's could see how they went together , this could explain the extra (most likely UK) body numbers (though being UK stamped panels they may well have got their UK numbers before being assigned to the AUstralian market) . the engine number fits in nicely in sequence with Wild willy's and the sequence is good for the first 2,000 or so 850's , after that they get screwy so presumably they bundled up a shipload of bits to assemble a couple of thousand cars .

Author:	david rosenthal [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:44 am ]
Post subject:	Help to identify 850
Has anyone restored a pommy 850, or knows about model variations. My car has a Aust plate on it,type-yma2s1 car no.9\54397\1037 eng.no.8amu h 114264. It has no. 49903 and no. 1037 stamped on firewall. I have asked Watto if he had any info, and at this stage none of these no.'s appear to corespond to the car. I have been in contact with British archive and 1959 register and found various parts on the car that are fitted to 59-60 models. Has anyone worked on a early pommy car and if so were any of the bits listed on thse cars and what year were they. The main items are; Brass door hinges, early rear window latches[thin type] , fabricated rear susp. arms and trumpets, roof lining 3 seams in rear and 2 seams front, the floor/firewall has been completely bronze welded, and the front guards and bonnet different size to Aust cars. There are pics on 850 register, page 19. Where were any date or year i.d. stamps located on the cars.? Mine does not have complete boot lock, and the wiper motor has 11/60 on it , but I think that it has been changed.[diff. colour] The bonnet is drilled for a Morris badge, but there are two holes above that, and one behind badge area. These were filled with bronze weld and bogged over.!!!!! Any help would be appreciated, becuase if this car is a bodgy I would like to find out and take it off the register. Thank you

Author:	simon k [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:51 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Help to identify 850
I don't think the car is bodgey, I think it's really early - that engine number is an english motor david rosenthal wrote: My car has a Aust plate on it,type-yma2s1 car no.9\54397\1037 eng.no.8amu h 114264. It has no. 49903 and no. 1037 stamped on firewall. you may already know this, but I'll throw it out there anyway (discussion starter - I may also be a little mistaken) the CKD cars came out with an english body number on them, and the aussie body number was stamped as well, so your english body number is 9\54397 and your aussie body number is 1037, making it Aussie car number 537. My mate had an early 850 with welded suspension cones, don't know the numbers off it because it got crushed between a mercedes driven by a 17 year old and a brick wall

Author:	Timbo [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:23 am ]
Post subject:
The engine number is 875 before that of my January 1961 pommy estate 8AM-U-H/115139. Aussie Minis were released in March '61 but assembly began back in January '61 (and obviously it would have taken a while for the parts to be shipped here), so I'd say it is one of the early Aussie 850s. Tim

Author:	Anto [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Help to identify 850
simon k wrote: My mate had an early 850 with welded suspension cones, don't know the numbers off it because it got crushed between a mercedes driven by a 17 year old and a brick wall Yeah I have a pair of welded suspension cones from an early model 850 with the straight front valance. Unfortunately the car was wrapped round a pole. Statistically, these welded suspension cones are starting to sound dangerous.

Author:	david rosenthal [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:
O.K. The info I have from the 1959 register is; 1 Rear window latches changed mid 1960 2 Brass door hinges changed mid to late 1960 3 Rectangular drain holes fitted to front gutter early to mid 1960 4 Recess for window rubbers fitted Autumn 1960.[the first ones only had shallow pressing, later bodies had deeper pressing] There is no info at this time as to when welded rear swing arms were replaced.[they think roughly early to mid 1960] The problem I have is that my car has early rear latches,brass door hinges and welded rear arms.These should have been changed before C.K.C cars. Anyone with a pommy car, what are the two no.'s stamped on fire wall?, and have you confirmed it's age. The problem is that the no. 49903 on my car does not match any Aust. no. The other thing I would like to find out from other pommy cars are measurements on front guards and bonnets [I will post some pics later showing where to take mesurements] I have been told by a couple of people that my car may be a Austin body that was badged as a Morris from the measurements. Thanks for you help

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Author:	simon k [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:
david rosenthal wrote: I have been told by a couple of people that my car may be a Austin body that was badged as a Morris from the measurements. that's what I was thinking about the extra holes for the badge being brazed up.... what did an Austin badge from that era look like?

Author:	wild_willy [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:
Timbo wrote: the engine number is 875 before that of my January 1961 pommy estate 8AM-U-H/115139. Aussie Minis were released in March '61 but assembly began back in January '61 (and obviously it would have taken a while for the parts to be shipped here), so I'd say it is one of the early Aussie 850s. Tim The engine number in my 850 is 8AM-U-H/115131 - So close!!!! David My 850 also has a larger hole in between the badge monting holes as well and is covered by the mounting bracket for the bonnet lock. I also notice that the badge mounting holes have been hand drilled leaving the rough edges at the back of the holes as if drilled with a bluntish drill. No other holes but some indentations where bracket is spot welded on. Bonnet has been sand blasted so no other hidden clues. Look like they were sent undrilled from UK - who knows!

Author:	Countryman [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:38 pm ]
Post subject:
Hi David; I have a 18 Jan 61 Austin Countryman (Heritage Certificate). Car / chassis no A-AW7/84221 Engine (originaly) 8AM-U-H / 121439 Body no 5325 Stamped on a plate next to the bonnet catch. I have no no's stamped on the firewall at all. I have an original Austin badge and the holes form a 60mm (between pins) upside triangle. I also have several other depresions and locators? that would be hidden behind the badge possibly for an Morris badge? Questions: What type of holes have you got in your rain gutters, pressed half moons, Drilled holes or rectangular slotts? What type of floor has it got, ie no sills and small front pressing. What type of front seat mounts? What type of kick panels on the front doors and how many holes in the sliding glass? Garry

Author:	wild_willy [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:
And yet another one. This time in For Sale. http://www.flickr.com/photos/morrie850/ ... 208098501/

Author:	Timbo [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:08 pm ]
Post subject:
wild_willy wrote: the engine number in my 850 is 8AM-U-H/115131 - So close!!!! How cool is that! Notice that Garry's Countryman had a higher engine number than mine, but was built a week earlier. Austin Countrymen and Morris Travellers all came off the Longbridge production line along with the Austin sedans, but UK Morris sedans were built on the Cowley production line. It would be very interesting to know which production line the early CKD kits that came out to Australia came off. They may really have been Austins. Tim

Author:	Morris 1100 [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:
Timbo wrote: wild_willy wrote: the engine number in my 850 is 8AM-U-H/115131 - So close!!!! How cool is that! Notice that Garry's Countryman had a higher engine number than mine, but was built a week earlier. Austin Countrymen and Morris Travellers all came off the Longbridge production line along with the Austin sedans, but UK Morris sedans were built on the Cowley production line. It would be very interesting to know which production line the early CKD kits that came out to Australia came off. They may really have been Austins. Tim Being CKD kits they would not have come off either the Austin or Morris production line. The kits would have been put together in the steps before the final production lines.

Author:	sports850 [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:
Countryman wrote: Questions: What type of holes have you got in your rain gutters, pressed half moons, Drilled holes or rectangular slotts? What type of floor has it got, ie no sills and small front pressing. What type of front seat mounts? What type of kick panels on the front doors and how many holes in the sliding glass? Garry Garry , have a look at the photo's David put in this thread , it has all the bit's that point to it being a very early 850 in the UK style (post mount seats rather than later flat bar mount , the floor goes all the way to become the sills , UK 850 door kick panels etc )- http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic ... &start=270 . David , I think it's what it claims to be , the 537th morris 850 built in Australia from UK bits that were sent out as a complete knocked down (CKD) kit . I am wondering though if they didn't start the AUstralian body numbers at 1001 instead of the later accepted 501 and this (and the first 50 or so ???) might have been sent as a completed shell so the local panel guy's could see how they went together , this could explain the extra (most likely UK) body numbers (though being UK stamped panels they may well have got their UK numbers before being assigned to the AUstralian market) . The engine number fits in nicely in sequence with Wild willy's and the sequence is good for the first 2,000 or so 850's , after that they get screwy so presumably they bundled up a shipload of bits to assemble a couple of thousand cars .

Author:	Morris 1100 [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:
sports850 wrote: I am wondering though if they didn't start the AUstralian body numbers at 1001 instead of the later accepted 501 and this (and the first 50 or so ???) might have been sent as a completed shell so the local panel guy's could see how they went together , this could explain the extra (most likely UK) body numbers (though being UK stamped panels they may well have got their UK numbers before being assigned to the AUstralian market) . the engine number fits in nicely in sequence with Wild willy's and the sequence is good for the first 2,000 or so 850's , after that they get screwy so presumably they bundled up a shipload of bits to assemble a couple of thousand cars . I will dig around but I seem to recall something about CKDs starting at 1001 and normal production starting at 501. I will see if I can find proof....

Author:	sports850 [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:
I would nearly bet on it , being the first mini to be sold in Aust they would want to up the number for a bit of buyer confidence "Oh ... they've only sold 500 ..." or "OK , so there's 1000 of them running around , can't be too bad" . Both of these (David's and Wild willy's) fit in with having UK features while not being "normal" UK 850's .

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Author:	Morris 1100 [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:22 pm ]
Post subject:
One of my books says that the Aussie Morris 850 started at 501. But that same book stuffs a couple of other things up (it is the basis for a lot of the chassis number mistakes on the net!) so I will continue to dig.