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I brought this topic up on another thread so thought I'd bring it over here. I've noticed a few original painted Cooper S's over the years that have their front panels painted black behind the grille area. Restorers often paint those diagonal stiffeners black but it's doesn't seem common knowledge that the the entire perimeter of the grille aperture was painted black at the factory. By way of illustration...



Here's Mark's Speedwell TC...



Works Mini..



So which cars did they paint like this? All the above are mid 60's Cooper Ss for a start. I've not noticed this feature on any non Cooper Minis, or on Mk2s, but I have seen a 997 like this. Anyone got some 'original paint' cars to look at?

Scotts' '64 1071 has its original front panel with the black paint, my car was built the same week but has had a replacement front panel [held on with screws!]
I can't see why they painted the outer sections because they are behind the grill plates which are also black

My November 66 built Morris Cooper S.

You are right......didn't know this ?
Here is a pic (taken in 97) of my 64 1071 and it has a black front panel.

August 63 1071, and this was taken in 78:



March 64 Super DeLuxe :

Just had a look at my next project and its a very original 1966 Cooper and that has a black support ( car is Tweed Grey)

We live an Learn


Ian

Would this be all cars or just coopers, also anyone know if mk2 cars had similar as am about to start my mk2 cooper resto

When i did my MK2 Cooper i can't be 100% the support was black , but i may be proved wrong ?

Ian

Ian, is there any black paint around the rest of the front panel aperture on your car as in my photos or just the stiffener?

Pete , i will have a look tomorrow and let you know

Ian

This is my 68 mk2 ...looks like original paint to me ...no signs of any black

My '67 Super DeLuxe was unpainted.

Looks like just Mk1 S's then? Another 1071...



What about Coopers? Anyone got any evidence of this on Mk1 Coopers?

On the first page of the topic STG95F has a picture of a grey 1966 Cooper with a black painted front panel.

smithyrc30 wrote:On the first page of the topic STG95F has a picture of a grey 1966 Cooper with a black painted front panel.

Yes I did see it, but you can only see the stiffener not the rest of it.

I had a Mk 2 Cooper that had only the vertical stiffener painted.

Just tried to have a closer look at my 66 mk1 Cooper . and it seems that it does have the black on the front panel as well as the support .

also noticed that the routing of the brake pipes on the front frame go under and not on top ? and they look very original


Sorry not the best photos , access is hard in my unit

Standard Mini,s did not have painted front panel.

The reason Cooper,s were painted was that the slats were fewer (Morris) or thinner (Austin) so you could see the bright colours through the grill.

JC T ONE wrote:
The reason Cooper,s were painted was that the slats were fewer (Morris) or thinner (Austin) so you could see the bright colours through the grill.

Austin Mini grilles were also similar in that respect but yes I agree that's the reason.

STG95F wrote: also noticed that the routing of the brake pipes on the front frame go under and not on top ? and they look very original
:

I thought they always went under the front cross member of the frame.

I cannot remember working on one that had the pipe on top.