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Been try to find the thread regarding the subject of black paint behind the grills on early cooper and S types. I think i have a rough idea where to paint but seem to remember some photos of very original cars with said paint. Many thanks in advance Tim

My early November 62 build Austin Cooper had such black paint behind the Grille.

See my tread: http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4929

Picture of my Sept 65 S you can clearly see some of the black paint, it follows that line all round & the stiffner is also usually painted. (it not present here though)

64 1071 S

Was this still present in a 1966 Cooper S?

Yes it was.

Can't get to the front my 66 S very well at the mo but hopefully shows black behind the grill enough..it is original but not the neatest paint job I've ever seen..

Bugger .. another job to add to the list ..

Brilliant, thanks so much for all your reply,s. That shows it all very clearly. Little job to do before i fit my rechromed Morris grill.
Thanks again Tim.

Was it just Cooper's that had the black behind the grill's? Was wondering if the Super's had it also for example?

Supers certainly did have black paint.

My MK2 cooper had black paint behind the grill and on the stiffener. Looked to be brushed too.

tedmcedd wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:27 am My MK2 cooper had black paint behind the grill and on the stiffener. Looked to be brushed too.

Thinking about it, my Mk2 Cooper has black paint behind the grille Ed ... but then it is a monotone black car

Strange the amount of Mk2's with black behind the grille. I had a brand new late December Mk2 in Glacier white without black paint behind the grille. Mind you, there wasn't much Glacier white anywhere either!!!

As for the battery box, no black or bitumen there either. Just going to ramble on for a minute now........

I remember this because on day 1, knowing how the box furred up due to the electrolytic action close to the terminals, I took the battery off/out, put it into a thick polythene bag with the leads poking through the bag, closed the bag up, clamped it down, boot board on top - and that's how it stayed. Changed it to -ve earth at the same time. I wonder where CLK 131 H is now? I did see a maroon-ish Moggy Traveller CLK 134H in Abingdon a few years ago

Peter

No record of 131H on DVLA but there is for the Maroon Moggy!

Odds are the brushed-on black paint behind the grille and inside the battery box (and anywhere else found on an A-prefixed body) was applied at the same time by an apprentice at some point during the assembly process at Longbridge. Not a job for a skilled laborer.