Rear 1/4 panel trim fitting

[Chapmag]

Hi all, I seem to have two different types of fixings for the rear quarter panel trim. On the nearside I have a slot in the upper part of the rear quarter panel that accepts the trim. On the offside I don't have the slot but I have have three holes that I assume are there for self tapping screws. So on the nearside the trim fits neatly into the recess but on the offside it will mean the trim will sit hard on the panel and be held my self tappers! Anyone else had this situation. Mine is an August 1960 Austin btw. Photos attached.

20231114_153847.jpg

[Tds76]

On mine that channel is a bright finished part, rivetted in place. I think the holes are likely for the rivets to retain the channel and yours is mssing.

I had a quick Google and could not find anywhere that provides them separately - part no. is 24A143

Cheers, Paul.

[davidnutland]

Self tappers through the trim panel, mine had cup washers to spread the load, clumsy and cheep but that is how they did it before the weld on channels.

[mab01uk]

Did your Mini leave the factory like that or has one side metalwork been replaced during restoration or an accident repair maybe? Never seen a Mini with the early screwed on (with self-tappers) rear 1/4 panel trim on one side and the later much neater welded on metal channel for fitting the panel trim on the other side. Perhaps your Mini was built mid-changeover and no one noticed!

1959 Morris Mini - rear quarter panel trim original screw fixing, which always looked rubbish after the trim panel warped in the cold and damp!

[Chapmag]

Thanks for the replies, it wasn't changed during the restoration and I have no knowledge of any accident damage before I got the car (2010). I did go back and look at the early photos I took when I first got the car and that only adds to the intrigue!

[mab01uk]

From the original photos it looks like your August 1960 Austin Seven/Mini had the early screwed on 1/4 panel trims....no explanation as to how one side has changed to the later type fixing! Hopefully someone like Bill Bell who is a Mk1 forum member will be able to give you a month/year that the change originally occurred at the factory. From memory and as others have stated the channel section trim retaining strip is welded on and I can't see how it could be screwed or pop riveted on afterwards....?

For reference another pre-restoration early 1959 Mini rear 1/4 panel...(and the early full width rear seat over the arches).

[Andrew1967]

My Nov 60 has the rear quarters screwed in with small Phillips self tappers and cups

[MiNiKiN]

Thanks for the replies, it wasn't changed during the restoration and I have no knowledge of any accident damage before I got the car (2010). I did go back and look at the early photos I took when I first got the car and that only adds to the intrigue!

Magic growth of 1/4-panel channels? Nope! If I were you I'd have my restorer interrogated. Unless you restored it yourself and forgot about it falling of the lift (PTSD)

[Chapmag]

From the original photos it looks like your August 1960 Austin Seven/Mini had the early screwed on 1/4 panel trims....no explanation as to how one side has changed to the later type fixing! Hopefully someone like Bill Bell who is a Mk1 forum member will be able to give you a month/year that the change originally occurred at the factory. From memory and as others have stated the channel section trim retaining strip is welded on and I can't see how it could be screwed or pop riveted on afterwards....?

For reference another pre-restoration early 1959 Mini rear 1/4 panel...(and the early full width rear seat over the arches).

I'd definitely appreciate any info. on when the change occurred, I'm seeing lots of photos of 1961 Austins without the screws. TIA Bill?

[SMOKE GREY]

October/November 61 they changed the quarter panel trim fitting.

[Chapmag]

Cheers Smoke Grey, If that's the case then it would appear my August 60 car has perhaps had a rear ns quarter panel repair/replaced at some point.
I'd have thought that would have been an expensive repair back in the day and must have been close to a write off? If I can still get in touch with the previous owner I'll certainly ask her. Thanks again, G

[Chapmag]

I think I've finally got to the bottom of this one. I've confirmed with M-Machine that I never ordered a rear 1/4 panel.
So I have to conclude that my restorer took it upon himself to replace the panel, using my money, rather than repair the crease that was on the outside of the original 1/4 panel.
Just one more reason added to a long list of why I'll never go near the guy again!!!