63 cooper

[coopers1968]

hi guys, today I found a 1963 cooper almond green, in a garage situated in a field, I checked the chassis plate and it is a cooper (confirmed by bhc), the engine plate seems to be of a 1275cc later engine, I opened the top cover found rockers which aren't normal, can anyone tell me what they are?
I also took some pics of the engine block also maybe you can help me out, the wiper motor has a 63 production date.
thank you

[rich@minispares.com]

they are the std a plus type rockers

it looks to have a later rod change box as well

[coopers1968]

So the engine is a standard 1275, which means I need to find a 997 cooper doner engine.. thanks for your help rich

[m1cH1]

The core plugs on the side of the block are also of the later A+ type....

[rich@minispares.com]

The core plugs on the side of the block are also of the later A+ type....

or any non cooper s 1275 block.......

[coopers1968]

thanks il start hunting for an engine whilst restoring the car! anything else I might want to check to make sure the body is of a legit cooper, although the plate says it is im doubting everything now.. here is the graveyard I bought it from,

[rich@minispares.com]

nice little stash!

[STG95F]

what a nice find

[coopers1968]

some more pictures..
I'm happy that it is a cooper, bu im sort of not because im already doing another project which is a 1969 super, and I don't have the funds to fund both projects:) so this one would have to wait in the pipeline.. in the meantime ill look for a 997 original s engine and read the parnell book as rich suggested to notice the difference between cooper s's and coopers
the car had been scraped in 1995, and left since in a garage. it has missing interior seats and speedo unit. i always wanted a mk1 eventually i wil get it back to its original features and enjoy a mk1 cooper. i keep saying its a 63 sorry its a 62

[1071 S]

Would not a 12/62 wiper motor mean its really a '63???

Just interested because my Traveller wiper motor is 12/65. While I refer to it as a '65 its more likely a '66 build.

Not that that's really relevant? AIUI, depending where you live the model year can be determined by the build date, date is was shipped to a dealer, when sold or even when first registered.

It took 2 to 3 months for the wiper motor on my S to make from manufacture to car completion...

Cheers, Ian

[Pete]

Looks like a January '63 from the chassis number, what colour was it originally?

[coopers1968]

Looks like a January '63 from the chassis number, what colour was it originally?

Almond green.

[Simon776]

The 35 start of the chassis number indicates a 1963 build date.

Wiper motors are at best a rough guide to build date and tend to vary more than most other electrical items - assuming they are original.

[gs.davies]

Any of those other cars looking for a new home?

[coopers1968]

Pm for more details

[mini63]

they are the std a plus type rockers

Vizard thought quite highly of the sintered rockers compared with the 'S' ones of the day giving them a consistent ratio..
he actually preferred pressed steelies too.

anyway a good find even without the correct mill, seats a speedo....good luck.

[coopers1968]

Hi guys,
i have an update on this project and a long long story. Basically the car was scrapped. and in legal terms in Malta it means that the car is no longer in use or ever available for re registration.
i wrote a letter the the authority stating that i bought this car from a scrapyard and that i was willing to revive the car once again. the transport authority declined my letter. i then wrote a letter from my lawyer. and they then stated that i had to contact the previous owner of the Mini but they cannot give me the previous owners details becuase of data protection.
so whilst i said this is a lost cause. i started stripping off the cars paint and dismantling parts. i found a for sale sign in the side rear shelf! with a telephone number of which i called daily for 2 months. last week this person answered: i asked him if he could sign a letter for me which i had prepared to the authority stating the car scrapped logbook could be transfered into my name. he asked me why i was so interested in this car and i told him cuz it was an early mini cooper model. he then asked me for some money and he signed. he told me that the car was in a bad state. he had put fibreglass on the floor to stop rust, he had painted it with redoxide to protect from any more external rust ( was a pain to remove all the paint layers..) but...
2 weeks later an vintage inspector came to visit the car and approved that the vehicle chassis is that of a cooper 997, everything was legit except for the engine unit. which was of a modern 1275cc engine. i called the previous owner and he informed me that his engine had basically gearbox problems and the mechanic at that time told him to swap engines with the one installed on the car .

i am now in the process of restoring this smoke grey with snow berry white cooper. i got the logbook in my name today and its plates are garaged im so happy i saved this vehicle and that im the lucky one to have found it in such a yard.
im now in the process of finding it a doner 997cc engine. as so i can get it to spec.
i will keep you all posted on the restoration as i will need tonnes of help probably.

[LDR209H]

Tremendous effort on your part,and well done on the result. There are some dealers on Malta trying to send some cars back to UK at questionable prices,in an ideal world yours will stay there as an extremely rare early survivor. You'll find plenty of help here on this forum as regards spares,original 997 motor etc.
Keep us posted !

[coopers1968]

hi guys, a word of advice please. i have found a 1071 original mini cooper s engine. would this be a good idea to purchase and place in my cooper 63?
if you can kindly advice asap i will go collect it tomorrow..as i know these are quite rare engines so maybe installing it into my 63cooper would be a good idea? i know its not a 997 but something tells me i should go for this one. its in imaculate condition, and come off working.
let me know pls
regards
c

[abri]

Buy it!! Seeing as the original motor is missing, why not fit a 1071 motor if you're lucky enough to find one!