Ah Pedantry at its best
Does anybody know wether the diagonal grill stiffener fitted in MK1 Coper S australian production to clear the oil cooler ,was riveted or spot welded into the front body panel?
I recall seeing both used but maybe the spot welds were on later production (MK2). Then again maybe I saw the panel beaters art at its best!!!!

_________________
Mk1 Cooper S
Mini K Rally car

To my knowledge, they were spotted with two spots, top and bottom. There seems to be a slight variation as to where they were spotted at the top, either as far rearward as they can go or forward about 1/4".

Regards
Al

Both my 67 Mk1 & 69 MK2 are both spot welded in.

Doogie

_________________
I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

My 69 is spot welded, but strangely there is a little pop rivet on the lower weld...it's not the usual kind of pop rivet, it's very small.

I've seen it as well on a mini K I had around here at the same location, so it's not a one off..

picture on the way..

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

My 67 Deluxe had the cooper style angled brace and is spot welded in 2 spots both top and bottom, must have been one of those "grab whats available" when put together

Our 69 S has the same.

_________________
Julie.............

You mean Wayne's 69 S is the same

Doogie

_________________
I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

No - I mean OUR 69 S.

_________________
Julie.............

Doogie

_________________
I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

My 68 Cooper S has pop rivets top and bottom.



But I guess that may have happened after a race crash in the late 60s. It has had a hard life and copped a big hit in the right front at some stage. I doubt if any panel beaters had spot welders back then. (I doubt if many had Migs back then! )

Both pop riveted and welded are correct In My Opinion, Over the years I have noticed both, Around 1969 they were welded more often than pop riveted, This is from my experience only, I am not saying this is Gospel

Here's the pic I promised.
Spot welded and the lazy rivet in the bottom. Sorry for the quality the camera is on the blink so can't take a new photo of the blasted brace...

It's a bit vague but the factory rivet is just to be seen in the bottom weld in the center.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Thanks to all for the response .
Seems like there is no definitive answer. It all started when I looked at my BMC published parts bookHYL3698 Oil cooler page AC12 and it shows rivets Part No DXR408 QTY4 This is an early Cooper S parts page ( around 1966). So rivets were certainly there for some part of the production life

_________________
Mk1 Cooper S
Mini K Rally car