G'day again,

Thanks to those who responded to my Chasis number Question. Still not 100% convinced as I've had blokes in the past adamant that the English did it different to the Aussies and mine is a very early car! None the less thanks. I'm sure everyone will agree with me when I say - I wish BMC had kept better records!

Anyhow, I was just wondering if anyone has any photos of early 997 Cooper interior etc. I've got some period magazines and roadtests but they are a bit grainy and hard to make out the detail. This would assist in my restoration. Does anyone know what Speedo I should have? It has 90MPH with 100 increment, but strangely (for '61, '62) it has Ks on the inner dial!

The color is Smoke Grey with a Cherry red roof. The smoke grey here seems to differ from English pics I have seen which make it look like a lightish blue shade. ??

Anything to contribute on 997s would be much appreciated!

Kind Regards, Luke

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Regards, Luke

Pretty sure you should have a 100 MPH speedo, the KPH markings are far too early for any mini model to be original I believe.

The pictures of smoke grey do indeed look like a shadow blue in Parnell's Original Mini Cooper and Cooper S (which is where I am guessing you are seeing these pics). I always wondered if it was a mistake or the colour rendering at the printer..

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

The (English) Smoke Grey on the inside of my 1071s firewall could be best described as a light blue colour (IMHO)

Cheers, Ian

Hi BMC 997
Great to see another early 997 Cooper being restored.

I have an early Cooper as well (within the first 300 produced in Australia which has a hand stamped ID plate which BMC Australia seemed to do with the initial production batches) along with two late 997's. The early car is English Grey/Cherry Red. The speedo will definitely be a 100MPH unit. The speedo you have is a later English speedo. The early Coopers have a different heater setup to the later ones with a blower mounted on the RHS inner guard and a air control flap mounted at the rhs of the grill.
Does your car have the original 997 engine??? I do have some red interior photos, an original carpet template (and an old sample bit of carpet to suit red interior) details of the heater setup etc.
I may be able to assist with further info and maybe bits for your restoratioin - PM me if you like so we can communicate further.
Cheers
wild_willy

Issue 13 of The Mini Experience should answer all your questions, and some pics of early 997cc Cooper.

Cheers,
Watto.

Hello BMC 997, I have three 997's as well, I think willy and me have a kind of sickness!

Get yourself a copy of the article Watto is refering to, that will get you started!

I replied to your other thread, which I think was lost in the last crash, do you have a plate for this car, or just a body number on the bulkhead?

If it is early, there should be an english number in the 'car number' section too.

Do you have the original engine?

I would love to get your numbers for my register!

Great to hear of another 997!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Oh and also Luke, where are you? I used to know of a smoke grey 997 with a Cherry red roof that was in the Harris Street Motor museum in Sydney for ages, then got sold off about 8 years ago?

Not your car was it?

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

How right you are Graham!!! I sold two and that left me with three!! Need to get these cars finished SOON.