Funny how every time a question like this arises nobody thinks to check The Mini Experience.
I'm not saying it is always 100% right, but I do put a considerable amount of time and effort into the research on the model histories, so it is a little disappointing to see the same pearls of wisdom cropping up every now and then.
See Issue 16.
The last Mini produced in Australia was a 1275LS, chassis number 105303, which is still in the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, South Australia.
While no factory records exist (same old story) this car has been confirmed by documentation that does exist, and has been backed up by former Leyland Parts & Accessories employee Gary Norwood, who drove the car out to Moorebank in December 1978 and still has the despatch record (reproduced in TME Issue 16).
This car does not have one of the special plaques, as only the "Last 10 produced for sale" seem to have had the plaques. In fact, only the last 10 1275LS Minis had the plaques, and the numbers were not sequential - other Minis fitted between these cars on the production line.
Some of the cars known to have the plaques include the 5th last (chassis 105280), the 3rd last (105283) and the 2nd last (105287). The one at Birdwood was never intended for sale, so there was probably one going around somewhere with a plaque on it stating it was the last "produced for sale".
While the 2nd last LS produced for sale was chassis 105287 and the very last car off the production line (also a 1275LS but not for sale) was chassis number 105303, this leaves any one of the other 16 cars to be the last 1275LS "produced for sale". The remaining 15 cars would have been either standard Leyland Mini, Mini S or Mini LS - as the chassis number sequence was continuous through all Mini sedans at the time, with only Vans and Mokes running in different numerical sequences.
So, your car is not the last off the production line, but for it to be the last 1275LS "produced for sale" it would need to have a chassis number between 105288 and 105302 inclusive. If it is a genuine 1275LS (chassis number prefix XNFAD18Y) and fits within this range, then it must by default be the correct car, without any need for the plaque to say so.
All this information, and more supporting evidence, is in the magazine.
For people who have the magazines but who can't remember when certain cars were featured, then the Index is essential reading - only $6 including postage or FREE when a set of three magazine binders is purchased.
