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I have been asked what are the main differences between the MK1 & MK2 shell.

I know the obvious stuff like the size of the rear window & the small cutouts round the gear lever hole, but I wondered how many other differences people had noticed?

Lets start with the different switch panel cutout.

I have a few other changes in mind but these are not partucularly changes between MK1 and MK2. They are changes between early and late MK2s. So not a precise answer for this topic.

so long
The Doc

Thanks Mark for this Thread

Larger holes and tabs for the Mk2 rear lights and I think the mounting bracket on the boot floor for the spare wheel thingy was deleted around the Mk1 / Mk2 phase in period (not 100% sure on that one).

The door handle boss came in circa Jan '66 on the Mk1, so all Mk2s should have this but not pre- Jan '66 Mk1s.

Mk2 onwards bonnets have the 'lip' welded on along the front edge for the new grille surround and at some point the bonnet hinge position changed in the Mk2 period.

Different hole positions for the various badges.

Happy to be corrected on any of the above!

I remember a couple of years ago comparing the floor-pans of a 1967 Mk1 Cooper S and a 1968 Mk2 Cooper S both completely standard hydrolastic cars. Don’t recall any much difference underneath at all.

Alan

- rear windows
- 4 little event on the roof
- open in the back of rear seat on the early mk2
- dashboad larger than mk1

other things

6 nuts on the front bulkhead for the MK 2 instrument panel.
Slam panel slightly different....two small indents on the front panels with two holes.....these were hidden behind the grille.

Probably all mentioned

1) Rear Panel as mentioned window and lights
2) Switch Panel enlarged on lower dash rail
3) Boot lid double skinned but think these came in for late Mk1
4) No nipple shrouds
5) Fittings for one piece instrument binnacle

Captive nuts were present in the sills for the nipple shrouds in the very early Mk 2’s. Nipple shrouds were fitted on the Jan 68 Monte cars, probably to hide something!

D

Both the Mk1 Mini & Mk2 Minis were ADO15 (Austin Drawing Office 15). Not much different until the Mk3 appeared. The difference between a Mk1 & Mk2 shell could be written on a postage stamp.

Alan

It is not really as easy as saying "What are the differences between a Mk 1 and Mk 2 shell?" as it depends on the years of build; there are more differences between 1959 and 1967 Mk 1 shells than a 1967 Mk 1 and 1967 Mk 2 shell!

I'm 100% in agreement with what Simon W said above. Late Mk1 and early Mk2 cars are very close relations

Alan

The rear ashtray on the gear tunnel is on my 66Mk1 SDL - and I has always thought of that as a Mk2 thing?

Lower lip of front panel....piano hinges on rear qtr windows.... chrome window catches....front floor, the dish is bigger....

Sorry for a thread revival but did the MK1 and MK2 use the same seat frames, will the seat frames from a MK2 front and back work in my 1962 MK1?

Vesparados wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 10:39 am Sorry for a thread revival but did the MK1 and MK2 use the same seat frames, will the seat frames from a MK2 front and back work in my 1962 MK1?

Yes they will. The very early 59/60 front seats were different, after that they were all effectively the same.

So today I come back to this thread if you don't mind with a question regarding differences between Mk1 and Mk2 bonnets, other than the lip for the grillmoulding what other differences are there.

I have a bonnet that I think is a Mk2 that has had the lip deleted and before I buy a new lip and have welded on don't want to destroy a MK1 bonnet I can potentially make use of

Here is an image of the bonnet does it look like mine has the spot welds drilled out or does it look like a MK1

For reference the Mk3 onwards bonnet has the hinge positions nearer the outer edges of the bonnet but I think the Mk2 retained the Mk1 hinge position. Some later aftermarket bonnets have brackets for both Mk1/2 and Mk3 hinge positions fitted.

Front panel different in the early mk1. Rear qtr windows used a piano hinge. Interior light different