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Technical question

I am trying to find out when the inner wing holes first appeared in production? I know why it was done, but just want to know when they were being pressed into the inner wing? I have a 71 car with all its original panels, and they are not there! But my 76 car has them.

Also when did the twin cable handbrake disappear for the single pull? Same time?

Cheers Paul

Twin cable handbrake went with the introduction of dual circuit brake system in 1976.
My late 71 built clubman estate had the inner wing holes.
As a matter of interest why were they put there?

A little known fact!

Over the years I have heard all sorts of crap spoken why they were there, ie to line the bodies up etc etc.

My father worked as a development trimmer within the body and trim shop under the management of a chap called Gallimore within the experimental department at Longbridge. Dad also worked directly for Issy, who had an “advanced design cell” in the day.

As dad worked on the very first mini ( Austin Atlantic when he joined), the guys had more of a freedom to make suggestions, unlike today in CAD.

Dad was a keen motorcyclist, and we used to go watch racing especially Tony Rutter (RIP).

Dad watched bikes hit hard walls and guys got killed, until a bright spark realised to put crumple zones into the barriers. He saves many lives.

The mini. Dad and his college’s used to get many crashed cars back to see why the floors and roofs bent. Dad made a suggestion that the shell was actually too good! Yes too good.

He suggested cutting holes within the inner wings, to act in the same way as the bike crumple zones! The rest is history.

He was a clever chap, and a great bloke. Also many of his mates made designs that went into or changed production, just like the rally mechanics at Abingdon

It was a very different world then

Hope that helps

PAUL