So when did the factory start fitting flares to the Cooper S?

While I am at it, when did the VH44 replace the Lockheed booster?

from what i have been told (and i am the first to admit i know nothing bout this
round nose stuff)

Mk1's had Optional flares, while on the Mk2 they all had standard flares...

From what I've seen, Jonh Cooper never wore flares.... but most of the mechanics did.... especially in the 70's

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

I had an early 68 S and it had no flares, but they fitted them from 68 on I think.
I think VH44 came in around 1969-70.

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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.

When I brought my 67 Cooper S. It came with flares and it also had the Lockheed booster on it. But unsure if the flares were factory or not. But from memory they seemed like they were.

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Opinions expressed by me are of my opinion only and are copyrighted to Kinkabell Corporation? 2006.

Remembering that the factory never referred to the Cooper 'S' as Mk1 and Mk 2s in Australia.

Flares were fitted to the Mk1 and a half, then on all Mk 2s

VH44 on all Mk2s

Confusing?

Flares were not factory fitted to Cooper 'S' cars until the MK2 in 1969.
MK 1 cars registered in South Australia were fitted with flares as they couldn't be registered without them because the tyres protruded from the body more than allowed. Didn't seem to worry other states. Not sure whether this applied to all MK 1 S cars or only after some smart article decided that they didn't comply. Don't know if factory or dealer fitted. Just a guess but probably dealer fitted. Grumpy old codgers from SA would know more.
The VH44 appeared some time in 1970/71. A 2/70 build date MK 2 car I had still used the Lockheed booster.

Regards
RonR

This months car in Watto's callendar is a 65 Cooper S from SA. It states that in 67 all SA S' were recalled to have the flairs fitted. I'd say it was the factory/dealers who recalled the cars.

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The reason I asked is when I bought my 68 Cooper S it had the factory flares and the holes in the inner guard were right for the VH44.

They must have come with flares from the factory in 1968 because they had them at Bathurst in October. The rules for Bathurst were very strict about factory standard.

TheRH inner guard would probably be common to all minis and holes would be there for fitting things such as minimatic heaters, voltage regulators, Lockheed Boosters etc. The VH 44 booster only uses one mounting bracket and the bracket was probably designed to use 2 of the existing holes. Lockheed boosters used 2 mounting brackets each with 2 bolts.
Bathurst rules would have allowed options. My car was built in the later part of 68 and wasn't factory fitted with flares. No Cooper'S' cars on showroom floors in the later part of 68 had flares (except for SA?) and no sales brochures I saw showed cars with flares or listed them in the specs. When you bought a new one you didn't get any options offered. For the ordinary public it was what you see is what you get. Take it or leave it.
You may have been able to get cars with ST parts fitted but only if you had connections or had lots of $$$ for the dealer to fit them.

Regards
RonR