What do people think about replicas? I'm taking about a replica MK1 Cooper - total rebuild from shell up - badges and a new manufactured compliance plate - complete look alike. My attraction to it is that it will be mechanically sound and as new appearance at a good price (~$8000) and IF I ever sell I would not try and pass it off as genuine but I have this uneasiness about the complience plate business. - Over to you.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

As long as you don't try and pass it off as a genuine one if you sell it or at shows (there will always be someone who'll tell you it's wrong , try taking any odd mini somewhere , i had "experts" telling me for years that sports850's didn't exist etc ...) then I can't see a problem , some purists will probably complain you are trying to defraud people but so long as you don't try and say it's genuine then no fault , no foul .

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You can't have a Mk1 with a compliance plate, they didn't exist.

You can get a new ID plate though.

Well ID plate then

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

So long as the hose clamps are correct ...you should be OK

The thing is...if it passes out of your hands into someone less scupulous or knowledgeable then it may get passed off as a genuine item....having said that....I wonder where you stand with the rego people ....you might end up with something that looks Cooper but has (for example) 1966 Morris Mini Deluxe on your label

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"Show me the Mini!"

Our `Morris Cooper S' says Mini69 on the rego label ID.....
It's an unashamed replica- at least we didn't pay silly money for it, and it looks like the real thing, but goes better.

Only problem- need to watch where it's parked... although alarm and numerous immobilisers helps.

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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.

I would imagine that even some of the so called genuine ones are reshelled anyhow.
Think of all the cooper s's that were used for rally cars/rallycross/circuit racing etc - I'd bet there are some reshelled originals around.
KB

Well more genuine cooper s's are registered in Oz than actaully built hmm?!?!?! Mines a replica haha and I don't care, in fact ID tag says engine number 8/Y/UH...haha! Try 9/F/SA/Y....but yeach to me thats what makes my car a cooper s not a ID plate. I'd never lie to someone who doesn't know and tell them. It's a re-engined 850 or if you like a re-bodied cooper S, either way I don't care. But yeah question to all....What makes cooper S a Cooper S, is it the engine or the body, it's agreed to be the body but is that what everyone on Ausmini thinks??

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

The greater majority of our Group Nb (pre 1965) Cooper 'S's that you see racing at present, are replicas of the English Mk.1 'S' (ie. same sliding window body shell as our early Coopers and 850s) Very few genuinel pre '65 'S's were imported.

Don't worry about upsetting some purist's sensibilities. Life's too short! Go ahead - build your Cooper 'S' and savour the experience. .

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Curly
'64 Cooper 'S' (Group Nb spec)
'67 Mini Marcos GT www.mm7056.wordpress.com

I am building an Austin Cooper S, from a Matic.

It's your car - do what makes you happy and don't let anyone tell you "you can't do that".*






* Ricing up a mini is the exception to this rule

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

It's good to see the collection of genuine parts being put together into one car again instead of fading into obscurity.

There are many cases of two cars being created from a wreck, and two owners competing for the same compliance number. Jimmy Dean's car went that way, motor went in one direction, chassis the other and now they're both rebuilt and claiming to be the original..

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Original MKI no flares pure and simple or bonnet stripes, flares the works? If the pure clean simple lines of MKI do it they look fantastic.

If the latter stripes and flares it will look like the other 15 000 existing of 7500 built and in my opinion look just as common as all the rest.

Go the Austin Cooper willy Always go for something different It will always stand out.

Steve.

Hi David,
Replica's are fine with me, I've seen some that are indistinguishable from the real thing, often better, but there is one problem you need to be aware of. If you are to produce an accurate replica, it is likely to cost just as much or more than the real thing in the long run and the problem is, it is never going to be worth as much as a real one. Mk1 Cooper S parts/components are getting very hard to find and expensive, so you need to think about it carefully.

On the other hand, a regular round nose with a later 1275 A series, painted in authentic colours could provide you with heaps of fun and satisfaction. I guess it all depends on how far you end up going. My two bob's worth!!

Al

Thanks Guys for the info and "support". Just by way of clarification it will be a straight Cooper not an "S". As I understand it all parts are there and it is to be assembled in the next few weeks. Shell has just been painted and engine overhauled and new clutch fitted. Reupholstered seats new carpet - will take a look at it this weekend after I've put the wife on a plane to Rocky

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!