CHROME GEAR LEVERS AND HANDBRAKES

[rolesyboy]

I have 2 styles of chrome gear lever in thier respective remote boxes. Can anybody tell me why one has a 'cranked' top ie a bend for a few inches just below the gear knob.
Also when were chrome handbrakes used? Cheers

[LDR209H]

I may be wrong but i think chrome handbrake levers are a mutant/hornet/elf fitment.

[pdaykin]

I didnt think that the chrome handbrake was used on any mini, until recently when I saw it on a super.

Not sure if it was original though.

I think the mini got a chrome button on the handbrake late on in mk1 production (or was it deleted late on - what a pointless post this has turned out to be !!!!)

[Toby]

62 supers had the chrome lever fitted, but only the very early magic want boxes had a straight lever, think they were fitted until 1960 after that they were cranked

[mk1]

Just to clarify.

Supers had a chrome gear lever BUT NOT a chrome handbrake lever. Chrome handbrake levers were never factory fitted to Minis.

[Dr.Mabo]

Chrome handbrake levers were never factory fitted to Minis.

No rule without exception.

The spanish Authis had factory fitted handbrake levers.

But I'm sure for all british manufactured Minis there is no exception of the rule.

If anybody needs a photo. I can make one, as I'm just restoring an Authi 1275 GT from 1971

so long
the doc

[scooperman]

In the States, the chrome handbrake levers were in the MG1100 SportSedan. Not sure but I think also in the Austin America. Quite common to find these shiny bits pulled from the ADO16s in junkyards, then transplanted to Minis.

Recently saw mention of a kinked handbrake lever used in Mokes, but that may have been for the Chinese Moke clones.

[Tim]

Aussie Mokes all used a standard Mini handbrake lever, but they used the poverty pack version without the plastic grip.

Sometimes they are modified for different purposes. This is the 1977 London-Sydney "Coke Moke", which also has a repositioned gear lever (possibly running a remote gearbox).



Tim

[66S]

I am relying on my hazy memory here but I reckon I have seen an early (Mk1) UK assembled Elf with a chrome handbrake here in NZ. Could that be correct?

Al

[LDR209H]

In the States, the chrome handbrake levers were in the MG1100 SportSedan. Not sure but I think also in the Austin America. Quite common to find these shiny bits pulled from the ADO16s in junkyards, then transplanted to Minis.

Looks like you get the cigar,sir

[rolesyboy]

Well thanks for the info so far guys. I have a feeling that the chrome handbrake I fitted to my S was from an 1100. I have heard in the past they were fitted to either Elf or Hornet. Bottom line is they were never fitted to a Cooper S so I will have to take some form of punishment for this sacrilidge!
The cranked chromed gearlever still remains a mystery though. It is for a Cooper type remote box but the top 2 or 3 inches has a bend in it. I am certain it is not from a regular 850. It doesn't appear to have been home modified so I am puzzled as only ever seen a straight chome Cooper gearstick.
Anyone??

[Jack of all trades]

a picture paints a thousend words,

A few '60's tuners spring to mind;

Downton;
http://www.mk1-performance-conversions. ... _ely_4.jpg

[rolesyboy]

Hmmm, well mine is different again. I will post some pics up and take away shroud of mystery

Thanks Jack. Still learning.

[814CWE]

the very late sep and oct 1962 morris supers HAD a chrome handbrake
ive got 2 cars here with chrome handbrakes.

[scooperman]

In the States, the chrome handbrake levers were in the MG1100 SportSedan. Not sure but I think also in the Austin America. Quite common to find these shiny bits pulled from the ADO16s in junkyards, then transplanted to Minis.

Looks like you get the cigar,sir

I was just getting ready to thank you for the cigar, and then I checked one of the Elfs. I have a 69 Elf here in the shop which has the chrome gear lever and shift lever, both are straight. I will check the other two Elfs when I get home this evening.

edit: No, the other two have regular (unchromed) gear and handbrake levers. The first one I looked at had been tarted up at some point in its life, it was in an article in Practical Classics.

[coop12g295]

Was the chrome handbrake fitted to woody estates I was told it was original fitment on my MK2

[nick rogers]

I agree with Mark on this. I had 2 Surf blue Supers, one Austin and one Morris and neither had chrome handbrakes, they had black handbrakes with chrome buttons. All the chrome handbrakes I have had have come from MG1100's. On the other hand, both my Supers had chrome magic wands as did all the magic wand Elfs and Hornets. No travellers or Cooper or Cooper S's had chrome handbrakes.
I have the Super supplements for both A and M and can check part numbers.

[814CWE]

i beg to differ on the super handbrake debate..

a lot of stuff on the late supers aint in the parts books !!

theres an ammendment on dealership bulletins showing chassis nos on some morris supers between approx 147500 and 148000 had chrome handbrakes for the reason nobody knows.

these same cars had no sound proofing under the rear parcel shelf or bonnet either,and some cars were not fitted with brocade trim.just plain dove grey,,on some red and blue cars.



the previous(and only) keeper says the chrome handbrake on the blue super was on from new,and he has no point in saying otherwise
he has no agendas..or nothing to gain.

we should not forget bmc could chuck anything they wanted at these cars and get away with it wherever possible

and they did!!