Mini Assembly in Setúbal / Portugal

[MiNiKiN]

Hi,
does anyone know anything about Mini production at the Setúbal plant?
I cannot find anything substantial on the internet.

Were the Portuguese Mk1 different to the British built?
Reason is that I found a Mk1 Cooper, said to be a 1966 model, but it shows the pre '64 full front valance.
I'd like to know if this is a bug or a feature. Could be a wrong declaration by the seller or the Portuguese carried on production with the old panels.

Ta
Marcus

[mab01uk]

Found the extract below taken from this ad for a 1965 Morris Mini Cooper S 1275cc.
"The car was originally assembled in Portugal at the Setubal factory which was partially owned by British Leyland. This enabled British Leyland to sell cars in Portugal as they were deemed nationally produced. This was more for show than anything else though, as the cars left the UK as a virtually assembled kit. All the workers at the Setubal factory in fact did were to paint and then assemble the cars. Other than some extra colours being available they were indistinguishable from the UK assembled cars and exactly the same specification."
https://www.paddock42.com/advert/mini-c ... -mk1-1965/

[moita]

If it is a red car cooper, that car is re-shelled. Beware buying from here. Hard to find genuines matching.

Cars were CKD, some kind of same specs as in UK. Sometimes different trim and also seen on some later MK1 a ashtray welded as per MK3 in the middle of rear area.

[MiNiKiN]

If it is a red car cooper, that car is re-shelled. Beware buying from here. Hard to find genuines matching.

Cars were CKD, some kind of same specs as in UK. Sometimes different trim and also seen on some later MK1 a ashtray welded as per MK3 in the middle of rear area.

Thank you. It is the red Cooper yes. I have now got loads of photos from the vendor and yes it is re-shelled (with a much older full front valance shell)