Hi everyone,
I have a MK1 Cooper S Block with an Australia Map stamped at the end of the Engine Block Number. I have not noticed this on other MK1 Blocks. Can anyone please tell me what it means?

I have searched the forum Threads on here and I found a post from Oct 31, 2016 that indicates that it may be a Police Block, is this Correct?

In the History of this Car it was believed to have run at Bathurst, however have struggled over the years to get definitive proof.
Can the Australia Map denote Race Engine Blocks?

How unique is this marking?
Is there any data on how many were stamped this way? or is anyone attempting to collect this data to create a data base?

Would appreciate any assistance,
Kind Regards,
Rick

I don't think they are that unique and certainly not related to a race car or the Police numbering system. The Letters and numbers used are the exact same as the factory stamps and in the same way the factory stamped them. Here is a small selection of Aussie stamps with a variety of engine types. 9FSAY, 10YCTAH, 1000, 1001, 1204. The casting dates for these engines would range from 1968 to 1971.

updated

There was a discussion back in 2010 and the jury was still out - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67814

OMG no Tasmania on that map. They will be outraged

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.

It was included in the specification as part of the BMC Standards document.

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

Very interesting.

Great information gents.

I have a 1200 with the map stamped on also.

Thank you everyone, much appreciated.

Well, that's my new thing for today.

In relation to 9FSAY motors that were imported as fully assembled power units from UK for Cooper S, does the Mowog -Australia stamp mean that engine was supplied as a spare part by BMC Australia? I thought the 1275 blocks were never cast or machined here.

They would all have been stamped here, once the UK tag was removed?

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Then wouldn't most cooper S motors have the stamp? But it isn't very common.

Interesting everyone,

Well I guess any speculation on how common or scarce a feature can only be determined by data, outside of that is shear speculation.

I would think that a prudent idea is that the mini registers on this forum should include an additional column denoting a space to record which vehicles have engine blocks with an Australia Map. Without data no one can be sure and transparency of data is in the interest of all.
What are peoples thoughts on such an addition to the mini register?

I note the BMC Standards document attached by 'winabbey', this gives us an interesting ray of light into the weird internal workings at BMC, thank you. However.
Of point in that document is
- it is revised 14th May 1968 so therefore the information contained there in, only applies to vehicles post that date.
- It must be noted that the amendment is the insertion of the letters MOWOG into an Australia Map therefore signifying that the Australia Map use pre dates 14th May 1968
- It appears and can only be assumed without other documentation that the Australia Map was introduced in 3rd July 1964. Here it would be interesting to know if that document exists so refer that to winabbey's expertise in this area.
- The document is really the stipulation of the use of the letters 'MOWOG' and not how the Australia map is to be used. That is evident by the the second paragraph commencing with 'The "MOWOG" mark will appear on:-' then the stipulations.

As to the use of the Australia Map, we must be all of the consensus that it does not appear on all 1275cc Cooper S blocks that were all imported into Australia. No casting or machining. If this is correct....

Why then does the map appear on some blocks and not others, I note the 4, 2x MK1 Coopers S (1965 & 1966), 1x Mk2 Cooper S (1969) and 1x Clubman GT (1972) only one is stamped with the Australia Map. That is the 1966 Mk1 Block. On those statistics only 1 in 4 rolling off the assembly line is being stamped with an Australia Map. To small a statistics pool to be reliable statistic. However when I take into consideration others I have viewed, numerous other Cooper S's over the years, the prevalence of the Australia Map would appear to significantly shrink that percentage.

Statistics is what we need and accurate ones at that.

You wont get accurate stats. Its been over 50 years. More than half the blocks have been scrapped and melted down. of the remainder some have had their engine number pads machined down, some cars are hidden in sheds, some owners are scarred to share info, some owners don't use the internet, some of the internet users don't use facebook or ausmini.

I think you should focus on why and not how many. At the moment there are too many outstanding questions to come to a conclusion.

One question you might be able to help with is was it to identify the engine as a spare part placed onto a shelf for later sale? We can discount that theory if the engine number appears on an ID plate or passport to service. Does your engine with the Aussie map appear on the ID plate or passport to service?

Yes the number corresponds to the ID

Well that disproves it was a spare part stamp. Thanks for you help.

Most likely to signify "local content" in order to maximise financial incentive through government regulations. The rocker cover and timing chain cover had a map of Australia from the late 1960's.

The local content may have involved remedial work to the engine that involved disassembly and part replacement or repair. BMC would call this local content and hence a greater percentage of the car's manufacture is deemed local.

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

the "local content" may have also been as simple as chiselling off the tag and stamping.... but the radiator was probably Australian?

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?