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1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 6:08 am
by swindrum
So, I have picked up a rather sad little mini, it is essentially just a shell, no subframes, no engine, no seats... Very rusty, roof squished in...
It is a MkII, and the wiper motor and glass point to it being a 68.
I was looking at the vin, and it is AA2SBD-12187xx
So, what I gather, it is an Austin Deluxe, what would make a car Deluxe compared to a Standard Mini?
Would it be worth the effort to repair? Really, it only needs everything...
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 7:55 am
by Old English White
Deluxe had the opening rear quarter windows, bright filler inserts (instead of black) in the screen rubbers, overriders and the lower dash rail had that large rubbery moulding which brought the switch panel closer to the driver. Standard Mk2 still had the plain, painted dash rails, rubber mats on the floor and Mk1 style seating along with retaining the "wand" gearstick whereas Deluxe (Super Deluxe?) had carpets, better upholstered seats AND the remote gearchange
Probably other stuff too.
Is it worth it....... I'd have to leave it to somebody else to answer that. If most of it is missing, that's a lot of bits to buy and a 2nd donor Mini can't be bought for £50 anymore. Personally I like the Mk2. Quite a rare and interesting variant I think.
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:15 am
by Dr S
Best of the bunch looks wise I reckon. You get the classic mini front and rear without those piddly little 1950's lights and the charm of the sliding windows. They always look much more resolved as a design to me than a mk1 that feels more part modern (the shell) but with these aged looking details (piddly lights and funny little bumper fences ( are they to keep gnomes away from the indicators?)
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:50 am
by minimans
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:57 am
by mk1
Dr S wrote:Best of the bunch looks wise I reckon. You get the classic mini front and rear without those piddly little 1950's lights and the charm of the sliding windows. They always look much more resolved as a design to me than a mk1 that feels more part modern (the shell) but with these aged looking details (piddly lights and funny little bumper fences ( are they to keep gnomes away from the indicators?)
HERETIC! UNBELIEVER! BURN THE WITCH etc. etc, etc,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLvGnro4Cgw

Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:46 am
by madaboutcherry
Dr S wrote:Best of the bunch looks wise I reckon. You get the classic mini front and rear without those piddly little 1950's lights and the charm of the sliding windows. They always look much more resolved as a design to me than a mk1 that feels more part modern (the shell) but with these aged looking details (piddly lights and funny little bumper fences ( are they to keep gnomes away from the indicators?)
harrah! someone talking some sense at last.

Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 10:37 am
by Oz67Deluxe
Dr S,
Clearly your medication is not working!
How could one not like this...
Granted, we did have wind up windows and opening rear windows among other things..
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:55 pm
by Dr S
Its nice, but this is the pinnacle of the breed!
Monotone, proper face and rear, double skin bootlid, hydrolastic and slidy windows.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10847&start=10
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 1:10 pm
by Andrew1967
Dr S wrote:Its nice, but this is the pinnacle of the breed!
Monotone, proper face and rear, double skin bootlid, hydrolastic and slidy windows.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10847&start=10
You'd like my factory monotone black Mk2 998 Cooper with all said features then Dr S
Sadly sidelined due to two very nice Mk1's being used instead

Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 1:17 pm
by Dr S
Oh yes!
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:33 pm
by Oz67Deluxe
Dr S,
You don't like my rear?!
The dash, maybe periodish? Wood grain dash covered in leather with instruments fitted in the right hand glove box lid..
Your car looks very nice Dr S. They didn't make Mk 2's in Australia, Mk 1 round noses until 1971 then Clubmans.
Just watched "The Italian job", the modern one. Great movie for those who haven't seen it (I hadn't). Nice "modern" Mini in the show but think I prefer my Mk 1. I could be persuaded to let Charlize Theron drive me in mine around however! What a stunning woman..
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:48 pm
by Dr S
Oz, that is rather nice

Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:46 pm
by swindrum
That is lovely!
Now, back to ME!
Looking at the "how to id your Mini" on the Mini mania site, there is an "S" designation on the Vin, where mine has a "D". What would be the differences between a De-Luxe and a Super De-Luxe?
Remote Shift? My car has only a hole for a Magic wand...
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:57 pm
by Dr S
Surprised about the lack of hole for a remote mine has a cover plate over where the wand would have come through and a fairly detailed cut out for the remote. I'm surprised that they'd not have the opposite for a magic wand. However someone knowledgable will be along shortly I'm sure!
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 10:50 pm
by swindrum
The poor old thing will arrive on Sunday, I will have a closer look then, but I do recall a magic wand boot in the car
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 4:15 am
by Oz67Deluxe
Dr S,
I just noticed that like me you bucked the trend and ditched the white roof concept. Well done!
I often get asked why the roof is red...
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 8:26 am
by Dr S
My view was its been red for 45 years albeit it many shades

and who am i to change it. It's also very much not a cooper. At least in vin plate!
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:38 pm
by swindrum
So, it's really bad... will need an entire floorpan, boot floor, doors and a roof, then all of the regular resto things, inner/outer A panels, you know, everything.
Not sure what to do with the old girl, I have all the subframes and running gear

Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:33 am
by Dr S
Sounds about the same as an average uk car then

mine had most of that, the roof we only did patch repairs and gutters on.
Re: 1968 MKII Austin Deluxe
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:14 pm
by rich@minispares.com
oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
black and gold.........
tatty..............
speedstripe.................
IM IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that ticks every box!
get it restored!