Watto,

Don't you mean rain channel above wipers (not radiator shroud)?

Doug

That would be on a 1969 Mk2, wouldn't it?

On the radiator shroud for Mk1 and post 1970 Mk2

Is this correct? Anyone?

Cheers,
Watto.

I thought I knew what was what with these numbers, now I am confused

Sorry for the confusion. I know that's the case for the MK II and assumed it was the same for the Mk 1.

A Mk1 has the body number on the shroud panel.

Ah, good.

I thought I was going insane.

It's all soooooo confusing for a slow brain like mine.

Cheers,
Watto

I think the body No. is 1936/or possibly1938. The interior trim colour is a fawn/ beige colour. I do not know what the correct carpet colour should be or the colour of the dash backing inserts that go around the instrument binacle. What colour would the rear passengers storage pockets be?
Did the carpets have black vynal foot pads as original? What colour vynal should cover the lower dash rail be??
Any help with these would be greatly appreciated.

Zep

Zep,
For a MK1 the interior trim panels should be the same colour and pattern material as the seats including the panels each side of the instrument pod. Upper and lower dash rails should be black. Boot board should also be upholstered in the same colour trim as the interior. Not sure if pattern is the same. (MK2s are all black?) Carpet should be westminster in a fawn/ beige colour. IIRC early MK1 cars used a cut pile carpet similar to 997/998 Coopers. There should be a black rubber square patterned heel pad on drivers side carpet and a similar pattern kick pad on the RH inner guard carpet panel. (MK1 heel pad LOOKS similar to that used on Morris Minors. Not sure if it is exactly the same.)

RonR

Production Codes.
M2/06 code can be in at least 2 variations. One type is stamped inside a circle and one is stamped without the circle. Mine is stamped (not very well) without the circle and I have seen another car, 7 or 8 later than mine, stamped inside a circle in a different location on the radiator shroud.
Mine is stamped on the radiator side edge facing towards the engine. (Read from engine side) The one in the circle is stamped on the rear edge of the radiator surround facing towards the firewall.
Lots of variations!

RonR

This is correct Watto, mk1's had only the body number with no prefix on radiator shroud and the correct chassis number on firewall, matching the plate number stamped on ID plate. This number is just below where the tag resides.
Early mk2 had body number stamped on rain channel above wiper motor and chassis number with correct YG2S4 prefix into rad. shroud. Later compliance plated mk2's had plate on lower drivers side bulkhead gusset, reverse stamped with full prefixed chassis number and the same prefixed chassis number stamped into rad. shroud. later again, late '70 and '71 they had body number stamped on firewall smaller clubby style compliance plate on lower bulkhead gusset and full prefixed chassis number on rad. shroud.
Just to confuse the issue I have seen a few genuine 's' with the full prefixed chassis numbers stamped in bulkhead as well as shroud. Also seen this in a few mini k's so wouldnt think it was forged/faked.

I have a very early mk2. car # 07 in rain channel that has mk1 heater, booster, head and conrods. The rad shroud was cut a little bit along front edge (to get rad in and out looks like), but luckily the chassis number wasnt damaged. The thing to remember is if the car is meant to have a plate and its missing, why?! fake/stolen?! . If its not meant to have a plate (early mk2) it must have the full chassis number present as this denotes the car type. no car left the factory undefined.
Remember back in the day the most likely mini to be smashed was a cooper s and when it was, all the running gear and sometimes ID plate were put into a different body. Of the 4000 's' built there is about 8000 left!!

A couple of quick questions some people may be able to help with.
How many Black mk1 's' were built?
Has anyone started a register of cylinder blocks as I have a few blocks that I dont have cars for and cars I dont have correct blocks for. It may be a long shot but might reunite cars & blocks. Maybe for watto to keep info confidential and if there is a match contact both parties? (in your spare time)
Does anyone know of a mini winning a race outright at Bathurst since 1966?


Craig, will get my 's' numbers to you soon.
Regards Ben.

I think this good way to go

you sound like an interesting chap to get to know!

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

For a first post its a ripper! Welcome aboard Ben.

_________________
Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

Thank you flute.
I have been reading the forum on and off for a few years and some of it makes great and informative reading. I think the Cooper s register is a great thing Watto is doing and thought I could contribute. I also had a mate of a mate that bought a fake, as a cooper 's' for cooper 's' $. He was told if it had diagonal grille brace , 2 tanks, right ID tag ...etc it was good. I didnt look at the car before he bought it but its a shame. Do you tell the guy he got dudded? If you dont, he will sell it as real. Did the seller even know it was fake? He may have bought it under the same pre-tense.

I think its great that you guys have given people somewhere to research or at least contact reputable people that can spot a fake. Its confusing with so many combinations of what car should have what, thought I might offer some light on what I have seen in 15 odd years of owning and looking at minis. Early cooper 's' had no diagonal grill brace '71s had 2 grille braces and clubby heater......, where does it end?! As I said before My mk2 had so much mk1 stuff but had never been apart. I thought it was wrong until I found its numbers and realised it was super early and would have been using up mk1 bits from assembly. Hopefully Watto's register will slowly build a picture of when these production changes happened.

Also I see it has already been suggested but I think the block register/re-unite thing would be great to reunite some of the mk1 blocks I have with their correct car. I would only trade if I was convinced it was going in the real thing though. Did I mention I would love to find the original block for my car

To the owner of the Mk1 's' that originally had engine # XYZ: I apologise for what I did to your block about 5 years ago at Oran Park!!

I only ask about Bathurst as a mate asked me when the last time a mini would have won there. He was the only mate not to rib me about running out of fuel first, but I thought it was a good question.

Regards Ben.

Hello Ben, welcome. I have a genuine Black Mk 1 S, all matching numbers. Been told there were only 5 or 6 Black Mk 1 S's made, but have no evidence of that. I too would like to know how many were built. Aaron on here has/had one, there is another in SA, it was featured in one of the mini calendars.

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Steve