1071 Engine numbering

[1071kev]

I'm doing some research on a 1071 which had an engine number which isn't in the normal number sequence range and wondered what your thoughts are on it. When researching the chassis records at Gaydon for my own 1071 a few years ago I had a look for other cars built around the same time that were despatched to Scottish garages. I noted the details of a few cars and one of them has surfaced. This car, according to the records was fitted with C.R. gears but the engine number recorded was around 3500 units earlier than the others I noted. This engine number is close to but not the same as the body number. I wondered if the engine units that had optional gears were built in batches then allocated to cars as required, explaining why the number was out of sequence. Alternatively it could have been a typo when the ledger was compiled. Any thoughts? Simon W. particularly

[1071kev]

Just checked the Bible - Original Mini Cooper & S and it appears that there was a jump in the numbers in April 1964 from 28*** to 33*** so the engine number isn't so far out of sequence.

[Simon776]

You are quite right, 1071 engine numbers jumped from about 28500 to 33001 in early April 1964.

[1071kev]

Cheers Simon, any thoughts on whether the units could have been built up in batches of similar specs then allocated to appropriate cars when required. This might explain why the engine number is out of sequence.

[Simon776]

The engine number doesn't reflect the full geabox spec. or final drive ratio and they didn't number them in batches of those with close ratio or standard gears.

They would have built the engines then plonked the gearbox on after. The complete engine/gearbox assembly would have had an internal code stamped on the flywheel housing to allow easy identification on the vehicle production line.

In case you are wondering about the reason for the engine number jump, 29000 > 31000 were set aside for the 970 and 31001 > 33000 for the 1275

[1071kev]

It was just a thought as, of the car details I recorded all had engine numbers from 33000 onwards except the car with the C.R. gears which is one of the >28500 numbers. The I.D. number on the flywheel housing is correct for C.R. gears and a 3.76 diff.