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bit of a puzzle - or im going mad

the '850 tc' car was built feb 1964, when i got it it had a pair of the early tube frame seats in the front, with the brackets that bolt to the cross member but have two 'ears'.

i assumed that these brackets had been put in when the car was barried up in the mid 1960's so that bucket seats could be fitted.

however, i took the brackets out at the weekend and was puzzled to find that they had been fitted from new - they where there when tha car was painted - they are the same coloiur as the car and the cross member is brown primer behind them

very odd, as i always thought that those brackets where a short run thing from 60-61 - ive never seen a 63, let alone a 64 with them fitted.

even stranger, the heritage cert has come through and the destination dealer is 'ministry of supply' - yet on the log book the first dealer is kennings of hull

very strange



oh, and it had the 'no heater' option ticked when ordered! - tight gits!

Very interesting one that!

What was the date of delivery to the min of sup?

Could it have run without a reg number while in their care & been registered afterwards?

I have never seen a car as late as that with the crossover seat brackets in.

I suggest you contact simon776!

mark

theres no leeway in the dates


date of build 13th feb 1964

date of dispatch 3rd march 1964

date of registration 1st april 1964

wiper motor is a 02 64 date

its a puzzle, thats for sure

im going to get the fe number (forgot) to see if simon can date the shell, who knows, they may have found it (or the early cross member) 'round the back' at the factory.....

the car was also registered as 'disabled' class at some time

another thing ive found is there is some odd bolts in the drivers floor, i noticed at the weekend that the throttle pedal has a twagger welded to it for one of those lever driven throttle things that tim harber loves so much!

The important bit could well be

the car was also registered as 'disabled' class at some time

They were still using the early type seat frame and the associated brackets on 'disabled' cars at least until the mid 1970's - may also explain the Ministry of Supply destination as well.

I've got disabled tubular seats in my van as they slide back further than a standard seat
and are bolted on usual mounts

Does the shell have the early full floor with internal sills fitted?

guru_1071 wrote:

the car was also registered as 'disabled' class at some time

Suits you , Sir

Rich, You say you took out the seat brackets at the weekend ? Tube frame brackets in early cars were welded to the box section. The later tube frame brackets, which as has been said were used in disabled vehicles, bolted to the box section in the same holes as the regular brackets.

Mystery solved.

And once again I learn something new before 8 o'clock in the morning.

Thanks folks.

simon etc

i think you have the answers!

just goes to show, there is a reason behind everything.

many thanks!

Yep Nick is right, my first 850 a clipper blue late 61 car , original reg SRG59 was a disabled car, ministry of supply on hert. cert., that had bolt on brkts for tubular mounting seats and extra bits n pieces where it had hand controls fitted at one time.

i was speaking to someone yesterday who has a early 1980s mini.

he said to me 'its got these really odd seats fitted.....'

me, with a knowing smugness, says 'its a disabled driver car...'

sure enough, its got tube frame seats (but with the provision for lock down tilts) and rubber mats