Very funny simon.
Im lucky enough to have a original NOS set of these flares with the metal backing never been fitted. Bought them off an old mini shop that use to be in Murray Bridge quite some years ago. I wen there looking to cut the steel off a wreck he had and he took me out the back, the original box they came in fell to pieces when he pulled them off the shelf. he stated that no one had ever came to the shop and asked for them before and that he had them there for many years. I guess i was just lucky. good to see someone is making them again !

Latest Advice on the Clubman Flares, we have been advised to expect them Next week

John

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" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

These are the Australian factory wide flares for the round nose that John is having re-made. They are of the same material as the narrower Cooper S and Clubman GT flares.

I believe he's looking for expressions of interest in having a Clubman version of these wide flares manufactured. Since this will require new tooling the demand will need to be sufficient to justify the investment. Let John know if you have an interest.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

My Late 68 (MK1) car had a set of the above wide flares fitted and I believe they are original being the same black plastic.

My car is from South Australia where, due to local laws, Mk1 Cooper S were fitted with flares by the dealer when the cars were delivered new.

I've always wondered if at that time (late 68) would they have fitted the wide or the narrow, in other words when did the narrow flares become available as an accessory.

I have spoken to one ex BMC dealer who recalled that "the wide ones were all you could get for a long time."

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Phill - the drawing for the narrow S type flares was released into production on 12 August 1968. The material was changed on 17 November 1969 and the five notches on the inside flange for the installation kit buttons were deleted on 23 September 1971.

... and no, it wasn't one of your Dad's drawings.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Thanks Doug,

In that drawing (of the narrow set) do the backing plates have a series of holes as with the Wide set. In other words were they available as an add on kit like the wide.

Any Idea when the wide set became available as an accessory.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I have some parts lists somewhere...

Phill - all narrow and wide metal backing strips had holes. The ones going to vehicle manufacture were left with a natural finish whilst those destined for Parts & Accessories Division for sale as accessories, as in Morris 1100's catalogue page, were treated with preservative and packed in plastic. That's the only difference.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

The August 1969 issue of the BMC Parts & Accessories Division Newsletter announced the fitting of the wing extension to production Cooper S's and their availability as an approved BMC Accessory.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Ok, thanks Doug,

So by that newsletter are we to assume that both the wide and narrow kits became available as accessories at the same time.

....or were the wide ones always available earlier?

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I think the wide ones appeared about twelve months earlier.
The narrow ones were stock on the Mk2, the wide ones were used on late Mk1 when required and for competition use.

Notice the Cooper S tax on the Mk2 items!

I don't have any information at the moment on the timing of the introduction of the wide flares.

If they were in use before the narrow ones it appears they weren't an Authorised BMC Accessory. The Newsletter says: "A Wing Extension Kit for Mini vehicles now becomes available as an Approved BMC Accessory".

I'll keep looking.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Yes, pay more for less flare.

Thanks, yes, that seems to fit with what I have seen and heard. As i said a Local ex BMC dealer recalled "thats all we could get for a long time" referring perhaps to the wide being available first and also perhaps the narrow stock took a while to become available.

Also back when i was looking at Mk1 "S" to buy I remember noticing many in SA and VIC had flares fitted and often they were the wide type.



Thanks Doug

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I Will have to lift My game Simon

_________________
" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"