My Mini has had the ID number on the radiator shroud destroyed.

There is no plate on the firewall (that was what they did back then).

There is no number stamped on the firewall.

The only number that can be seen is the one on the bonnet gutter.

I have no old rego papers.

Any ideas on how I can resurrect the unreadable number on the radiator shroud?

The 1969 MK2 S had its body CUM number in the gutter. You can only estimate the car number from this body number. There is no way of knowing exactly what the car number was.

Because the car number started at 501 and body number started at 001 the notional difference was 500 but most are between 490 and 510 apart - or even more.

I would first start with cleaning both sides of the shroud and see what is visible from above and below. A light sand can show high and low spots.

Using the body number as a reference you should be able to get the car number down to the last 2 digits so they are the ones you need to focus on. eg if you have body 150 2/06 then the car prefix and car number will be YG2S4 6xx.

Here is an example of a 1969 stamp to compare with.
The YG2S prefix was a single combination stamp. Then a small gap to the 4. Then the car number was a larger font.



Just be aware you cannot alter the current radiator shroud. Just clean it up the best you can to show the current stampings.

This should be in "How To'" faking the 69 Cooper S. Part One .

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

I don't know how showing what a shroud should look like is discussing how to fake a car. I don't condone rebirthing at all but I got the impression this post was about how to find existing stamped numbers and I thought showing an example would help him match up the stampings he already has.

I was thinking of a forensic way to read number, police I think do it.

Would it be possible to put a picture of what you actually have as a radiator shroud panel so we can see what you are dealing with?

Here is the picture

Doesn't look too bad to me. The YG2S4 can be easily seen. The car serial number is there, but needs work. If you have the body CUM number, then that will give you some hint as to what the Car No might be. Even looking from the bottom up might be useful if you use a flat emery stick and try and knock off paint from the raised portions on the underside.

Battery acid works on cylinder block numbers when the block has been decked too far to read. Worth a try.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Was the car originally Special Burgundy?

Crystal White

I worked for BMC, there is a very simple way to read the number on the radiator shroud. I have done many minis, it is a process that was done in the Experimental section where I worked I cannot disclose this procedure as it would allow stolen cars to have a number added or changed. Think about it .I am surprised that the forum experts have not detailed the procedure,
Allen

I built my first car when I was 16 a1934 Plymouth chopped 150 mm 3.4 DOHC Jaguar motor Super snipe diff .Painted in TUDOR GREY RR colour .From there I restored or rebuilt another 34 vehicles and supervised approx 300 vehicles that were being restored ,I worked for BMC for 8 years and taught vehicle restoration for 25 years. I have done a ground up on a mini in 8 weeks which includes a metal finished body, gapped and no body filer .
Allen

The reason I asked was because I thought I could see 667 but that is listed as a Burgundy car

There is such a simple way to
read a stamped number even if there is only a small amount of the number visible .THINK about it, it was used in the 80s on the HO series, and some other vehicles .I used to check damaged cars for the RTA if there was a fatality I would check for faulty repairs .
Allen