Mini Production in Australia

For some time I have been undertaking research into Mini production in Australia, a project which I started following early retirement due to ill health. My personal desire to better understand that which occurred in BMC/Leyland Australia from 1961 to 1982, and more specifically that relating to Mini production, formed the stimulus for the research. Work on the project commenced in 2008.

Early within the research timeframe it was evident that the information being assembled would be of interest to the wider Mini community. Therefore a decision was made to undertake the research to the utmost degree available for each of the various models within the Mini range. Facts, which could undergo rigorous scrutiny, were assembled to support the information and cross referenced between various publications in an attempt to eliminate incorrect information. Research is now complete and compilation of the data into draft format has commenced with the aim of releasing the publication in the near future.

The publication will include, among other data, in detail the following information:-

• An introduction to Mini production in Australia drawing upon data extracted from Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• A listing of each model within the Saloon, Van and Moke range detailing each individual model designation code, engine prefix, build period, number built and the sequence from one model to the next. This data will be provided in text and tabular form. The Saloon range will cover the Cooper, Cooper S and Clubman GT models, the Moke range will include the domestic range as well as those listed as Export models.
• A detailed listing of the production changes for each model as and when they occurred cross referenced by date, model designation code and engine number and provided in tabular form. An introduction to each model will be included detailing the overall features and specifics for that particular model.
• A listing of the various codes utilised by BMC/Leyland within the build period covering model designation codes and engine codes with a full explanation for each code.
• A listing of reference publications as produced by BMC and/or Leyland Australia relevant to the Australian vehicles.

I have enjoyed assembling the data thus far, even though at times, frustration was encountered when gaps within the information were present or data appeared to make little or no sense in the overall production schedule. I believe that the information will be of great interest to all who enjoy the world of Morris/Leyland Mini in all its forms.

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John Sneddon
0408 431 807
1963 Morris Cooper
1965 Morris 850
1968 Morris Cooper S

Can't wait. Well done John.
Are there any areas that you need more info on?

brilliant

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I can't wait either. It's going to be magnificent reading your findings.

I look forward to this too

Any thoughts on doing the same for Deluxe and Mini K

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

Nice work john something I think will be hours of great reading and the basis of many a discussion well done

Well done John, will be very interesting to see the results of your hard work. Hopefully the publication of this info will encourage more people to share more data with you to allow your projections to be refined even further.

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

Thanks for your passion John. You are a wonderful source of knowledge for the whole Mini community.

Cheers

Excellent!

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

John has done (and is still doing) a fantastic job of finding and correlating data that was destroyed by the factory, and all as a labour of love. No-one has provided him with any financial incentive for all his time and other costs. He is to be commended on what he is doing for his fellow Mini enthusiasts. I've seen some of his early results and can assure everyone this is a very detailed and thorough investigation.

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

or purloined by staff members...

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"Show me the Mini!"

Sounds great John, there is so much misinformation and heresay around this topic. With your book would it also be possible to get an approximate build date from the chassis numbers?

Where can we pre-order?!

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Dave - 64 Nurburg White Morris 850 & 67 Morris Mini Deluxe (Bro's Car)
Previous Rides - 62 Morris 850 (Sold '03 - Now 'Lulu-62') & 76 Clubman S (Sold '99 - SFW-863)
+ Too many other classics

Yay

Yes some info was retrieved from dumpsters by staff members and I have not seen it yet.

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That's why it's good to be.............ME