Inner apex panels

[Sherlock1962]

I have a 1962 mini and it was put together quickly...... By a garage before I bought it. Im in the process of having jobs done and when the car was on a lift it was spotted that the inner apex panels are missing. How crucial are these to the car?

Thanks

[STG95F]

very early Minis only had the outer A-panel fitted . I am not sure when the change to inner and a outer panels came in ?

[Old English White]

I'm sure by 1962 they had them fitted. I have seen cheaply repaired cars without them though - can't be ideal in the long-term as there won't really be sufficient strength to carry the door I guess. Probably depends on how much use its going to get? Biggish job to fit them afterwards I imagine

[Andrew1967]

I guess sometime in early 60, as I'm pretty sure my Nov 60 had them when I stripped it down.

[mk1]

missing the inner A Panel was a common trick by crap garages in the past, TBH I have not heard of this particular bodge for a very long time.

In the short term you will probably be OK-ish. But in the medium or longer term you will have to sort this horrendous bodge out. the inner A's give the front end a lot of its stiffness & without them your car isn't really 100% safe.

Please put sorting this somewhere near the top of your list!!!

A few pics would be very helpful in determining if your car is an earlier one that doesn't have them to start with. Are the stiffeners present?

[Sherlock1962]

Please execuse my Ignorance. Why would it be hard to fit the panels? I understand the A panel and Doors would have to come off.(Maybe inner and outer wings?)

As the cars away I can't get any images of it at the moment(Ive been told its a very early mini)

Thanks again

[graham.codling]

My mini is an early 1960 (few old mots have it down as a 59) does not have an inner panel .when I restored it in 1984 I still did not use the inner panel now it is showing indentation on ns top hinge area .i certainly don't see it as a bodge on a car which did not have them but saying that they are there for a reason ie indentation but no rust either . (Was fitted with brass hinges)

[mk1]

Why would it be hard to fit the panels? I understand the A panel and Doors would have to come off.(Maybe inner and outer wings?)

OK, point taken.

You only have to remove the doors, the A panels & possibly the inner & outer wings. Piece of cake!

Seriously though, if you are wanting to get it right then yes, you do (probably) need to get the inner A's back in position, but IF it is a little earlier than you think it may never have had them fitted in the first place. Without more info or pictures it's very difficult to say what is the correct course of action.

M

[rich@minispares.com]

technically you wouldn't need to remove the outer a panel to fit an inner one as it butts up to it and is welded down the back of the inner wing - there are plenty of photos on here of cars in bits that show how they all go together.

I saw a 1959 years ago that had had a huge restoration (20 grand plus 15 years ago) by a 'premium restoration specialist'

it had the correct single a panel on one side, and a later double a panel arrangement on the other

[mk1]

If you did it your way you would have to botch the front edge as the edges of the two panels are supposed to sit one on to of the other.

It would also be "tricky" doing it in situ just because of access difficulties.

M

[Andrew1967]

I suppose its possible to do it with just removing the outer wings, if you think about it.

Doors as well of course.

Still not an easy job by any means.

Unless its a really early 60 I'd be surprised if it is correct to have only outer A panels. Can Bill advise on this one ?

[mk1]

They all had inner A's from about August 1960. The problem is that the actual age of the car in the thread is not known for certain.

M

[Andrew1967]

They all had inner A's from about August 1960. The problem is that the actual age of the car in the thread is not known for certain.

M

Point taken Mark. More information required !

[Dr S]

For a long time redshed had a bent bit of metal probably 3mm thick and 10" long bolted to the back of the a panel and the through the inner wing. Original it was not.. But it did seem to do the job. I'd be inclined to leave it and tackle them when it's time. I'll be when its all pulled apart you'll have repairs needed for the a posts and all sorts.