Black painted front panels

[STG95F]

I must admit i thought they all sat on the of of the frame .

Looks like i have been wrong

[smithyrc30]

Logically it would be better to have them on top so that there is reduced possibility of vibration causing the pipe to contact the frame where it goes under the cross member. It would also been more logical to clip the pipe at the ends by the bends to ensure it did not contact. However not sure that logic and BMC always applied...

[STG95F]

Very true

[Andrew1967]

I've not seen any running on top of the subframe, always been underneath like in the pictures shown.

[Pete]

'66 Cooper here in original paint...



So Mk1 Coopers and S's , thanks chaps.

[Nick W]

Pete
Have you found the listed else where advert for that 66 cooper
Looks a good thing , no doubt he wants 10k??

[STG95F]

So you also have a 66 Cooper Pete ?

Mine is a 13th June Build

Ian

[coopertim]

My old Cooper EDV 32C was in original paint and had a black support on the front panel.

Cheers

Tim

[Pete]

Should be the whole surround painted black though Tim.

No, the red Ebay shell is not mine, looks pretty good though!

[mk1]

I have had a couple of original S's over the years both had the aperture painted satin / matt black.

M

[Simon776]

So the next question is when did BMC start this? 732 HOP, built March 1963, didn't have it and neither, it seems, did 898 KMJ built mid August 1963. They were definitely being painted by June 1964.

[Toby]

Any original 997s about with a black painted front panel?

[Gareth Brandt]

So the next question is when did BMC start this? 732 HOP, built March 1963, didn't have it and neither, it seems, did 898 KMJ built mid August 1963. They were definitely being painted by June 1964.

My 64 1071 black painted, built April 64

[minitravellerman]

I wasn't aware of this. Thought only the Elfs / Hornets got the black front panel.

So, out of curiosity, would a September '64 Cooper S have had a black front panel aperture??

[mk1coopers]

My October 63 car looks to have some of black the paint on the stiffener (original front panel) when I get a chance I'll get the grill off and have a good look

[Pete]

I wasn't aware of this. Thought only the Elfs / Hornets got the black front panel.

So, out of curiosity, would a September '64 Cooper S have had a black front panel aperture??

Yup.

[Surgeryman]

Any original 997s about with a black painted front panel?

I have a December 1961 built Austin Seven Cooper 997 that had a black painted front panel. I can't be 100% certain that it is original, but the shell is remarkably intact for its age and I believe that the front panel is original.

[618AOG]

August 63 1071, and this was taken in 78:

Just noticed Gary Dicken's grey car next to it! It hasn't changed much.....

When I lived in Somerton in the 1970's, there were a couple of local herberts in a 1071 S that looked just like that. It was later painted a vile purple colour before disappearing. I wonder if it's the same car? If it doesn't, I bet the logbook it safely stored in an envelope.

[rich@minispares.com]

I notice its got 'slowboys dad specials' on the wings!

last taxed in 1978