1991 Cooper Mainstream Project

[northern monkey]

[quote=coopersean post_id=315919 time=1673804495 user_id=647

Thanks Sean, I'm unsure of the build date, but registered in June 91. So I'd guess it was built not long before.

An early photo of the car shows it with these type wheels that's why we've gone for them, as do all the brochures, I can only assume it was a 'use what's on the shelf?'. It also had white bonnet stripes, and too aux lamps. So believe it had the Italian Job pack from factory (should've also had the plastic boot tray). This is all just from reading online mind

Chances of finding some Rover Aux lamps seems slim though.

Cheers, Oli

Most Mainstream Cooper's had the Rover Minilight with the holes between the spokes not in them,the brochure car's were dressed up as a mainstream and the RSP wheel had already needed the holes moving to exceed the Japanese type approval,also it was a crappy felt backed black PVC boot mat (absolute garbage) not an injection moulded plastic liner on a mainstream,that was later optional extra possibly on Spi's,most of the R.S.P. dress up part's, lamp's,stipes and signature stickers were available from dealership's who also readily applied them to their stock Mainstream cars to cash in on the RSP popularity...the spot lamp's are still available along with the correct shape bracket,the correct style of pinstripe, laurel's and the correct plain bonnet stripe are available in the correct colour also

[northern monkey]

[quote=CooperTune I have read Cooper offered a twin carb kit to upgrade. I would like to see the information on what was included. Steve (CTR)
[/quote]

The contents of the John Cooper Garages kit, were for the most part exactly what is in the upgrade kit that's produced now, and it's all available although it never quite achieved/achieves the claimed power outputs of 90bhp

[northern monkey]

[Did these have hard seats from factory? Thanks Steve (CTR)
[/quote]

Yes 100% already geared up for unleaded petrol

I am not sure (and will check) but I think that the plastic bearing cages came in later as part of the attempt to lower the drive by noise ...they made almost no discernible difference,apart from being utter crap... instead of just crap

[northern monkey]

Just a thought, Mainstream Cooper's had black door mirrors I think... although in the 30+ years I've owned it it's had at least four different types, before I settled back on white Rover type mirror's.

[coopersean]

Just a thought, Mainstream Cooper's had black door mirrors I think... although in the 30+ years I've owned it it's had at least four different types, before I settled back on white Rover type mirror's.

Mainstream Cooper's had mirrors that matched the colour of the roof, but the rear numberplate lamp was black. The numberplate lamp was body coloured on the RSP's.

[mini_surfari]

Thanks for the reply, I have completed my tranny and may even have drive gears to correct my speedo. My car had unrepaired left front damage to inner wing. It seems the timing cover has a round breather can rather than the flat faced I'm used to seeing. Is this correct or just additional poor repair? Steve (CTR)

Steve, this one has a flat breather on the timing chain cover (which I believe is 91 on)?

[mini_surfari]

[quote=coopersean post_id=315919 time=1673804495 user_id=647

Thanks Sean, I'm unsure of the build date, but registered in June 91. So I'd guess it was built not long before.

An early photo of the car shows it with these type wheels that's why we've gone for them, as do all the brochures, I can only assume it was a 'use what's on the shelf?'. It also had white bonnet stripes, and too aux lamps. So believe it had the Italian Job pack from factory (should've also had the plastic boot tray). This is all just from reading online mind

Chances of finding some Rover Aux lamps seems slim though.

Cheers, Oli

Most Mainstream Cooper's had the Rover Minilight with the holes between the spokes not in them,the brochure car's were dressed up as a mainstream and the RSP wheel had already needed the holes moving to exceed the Japanese type approval,also it was a crappy felt backed black PVC boot mat (absolute garbage) not an injection moulded plastic liner on a mainstream,that was later optional extra possibly on Spi's,most of the R.S.P. dress up part's, lamp's,stipes and signature stickers were available from dealership's who also readily applied them to their stock Mainstream cars to cash in on the RSP popularity...the spot lamp's are still available along with the correct shape bracket,the correct style of pinstripe, laurel's and the correct plain bonnet stripe are available in the correct colour also

I'll be honest, I'm just going by the research, info and history I've got/ found.

As you say if yours had mismatched wheels, I assume rover just used whatever was available at the time.

Here's a link to a Dutch brochure showing them in standard trim.

http://mainstreamcooper.co.uk/pictures/ ... /id135.pdf

And the optional extras brochure...

http://mainstreamcooper.co.uk/pictures/ ... /id130.pdf

Just going by what I've found out, I wasn't even born when this was built so will have to go off others knowledge

[northern monkey]

Just a thought, Mainstream Cooper's had black door mirrors I think... although in the 30+ years I've owned it it's had at least four different types, before I settled back on white Rover type mirror's.

You are absolutely correct, I've had bullet mirrors (utter crap) Rover mirrors, Chrome Cooper mirrors (plastic tat) some more bullets (high quality Japanese convex mirror , superb but stolen ) and finally back to the proper rover mirror (white)
Mainstream Cooper's had mirrors that matched the colour of the roof, but the rear numberplate lamp was black. The numberplate lamp was body coloured on the RSP's.

[coopersean]

Here's a link to a Dutch brochure showing them in standard trim.

http://mainstreamcooper.co.uk/pictures/ ... /id135.pdf

And the optional extras brochure...

http://mainstreamcooper.co.uk/pictures/ ... /id130.pdf

The brochure cars were very early cars, built in the RSP sequence. In reality the RSP and Mainstream Coopers were developed in parallel, and the first few mainstreams even had RSP engine numbers. Most Mainstreams had the holes between the spokes, but certainly a mix from Rover on when they were actually introduced fully.

[mini_surfari]

After what feels like a life time, all the sanding and filling is done for now.

So here's a few pictures from the last few weeks.





Had 3 coats of flame red... A few areas to flat and polish though... not more sanding





And bolting things back on which is nice,









Need to get on with the flatting and polishing asap so the arches, lights etc can go on.

Hoping to Finish it for Beaulieu again, but feel could be a stretch!

If anyone has any later Mini parts let me know, this is missing a few bits!