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Can anyone explain what these holes are for? They are in what appears to be a Mk1 shell. Do they indicate anything about the age?

No, but the welded nut does.

Tell me more about the signifcance of the welded nut

pdaykin wrote:Tell me more about the signifcance of the welded nut

"The welded nut (must be another on the other side) indicates a mid to late 66 shell."....quoted from an email Ricardo sent me.

What is it for ?

I can't think what changed in that area on 66 cars which would need it.

pdaykin wrote:What is it for ?

I can't think what changed in that area on 66 cars which would need it.

the way the dash binicle is fitted....

If its the age of the shell you want to know, you can look at the boot lock it is dated and the plate on the window wiper motor, and the triplex windows are dated ...Assuming they are there and not changed of course.

Almost every electric / Lucas part on a Mini, is dated = week & month.

Right down to the hydraulic brake light switch.

Canuk wrote:If its the age of the shell you want to know, you can look at the boot lock it is dated and the plate on the window wiper motor, and the triplex windows are dated ...Assuming they are there and not changed of course.

Thanks Canuk, I know of most of the places to check for dates on bolt on or electical parts. This thread started because the shell of my late '66 S has two weird holes in the bulkhead behind the master cylinders. I had never seen holes like that and was simply wondering if they mean anything (out of relative inexperience with shell features) specifically related to the date. Ricardo then confirmed that the welded nut for the Mk2 binnacle (visible in the same picture) was introduced in late '66, which would at least mean my shell matches the rest of the dates fairly closely.

It still says nothing about the holes, which we speculated were drilled for some unknown purpose by a previous owner. But, the holes don't seem to indicate anything about the car's date....that's the answer to my original question.

SA cars don't have Triplex windows (at least not on sedans post late '64).

Funny enough, both this car and my other Mk1 S came with Mk2 binnacles from their previous owners. This is supposedly not correct. I wonder then when the first Mk2 binnacles were produced if the shells were ready for them in late Oct '66 already when my car shipped from the UK as a CKD kit.

i would guess that the two drilled holes where put in by a previous owner for the passage of wire & pipes.

ive never seen a uk made shell with holes in that place

You learn something every day

I'm amazed that the shell was modified that early

abri wrote:I wonder then when the first Mk2 binnacles were produced if the shells were ready for them in late Oct '66 already when my car shipped from the UK as a CKD kit.

That's a good question.

Just had a look at my late MK I, it has the later type = same as yours (apart from the 2 holes)

guru_1071 wrote:

pdaykin wrote:What is it for ?

I can't think what changed in that area on 66 cars which would need it.

the way the dash binicle is fitted....

Meaning late /post '66 Mk1's had Mk2 instrument binnacle?

sandman wrote:

Meaning late /post '66 Mk1's had Mk2 instrument binnacle?

I wouldnt call it MK II, as it obvius was fitted to the MK I aswell, but yes = same binnacle (6 screw fixing)

Really ? Mk binacles in Mk1 cars ?

Never seen that.

I currently have a Jan 67 with a mk1 binacle - when I get chance I'll see if has the fixings shown in Abri's post

I also had a very late mk1 that had mk2 opening rear windows and I'm sure that still had a mk1 binacle.

I've seen a very late MK1 portuguese Cooper S (the engine was already in the MK2 range I believe) with the later binacle. I assumed it had been replaced, but now I'm starting to doubt it. The car had MK2 rear quarter windows, but still MK1 speedo, rear lights, rear glass, etc. Oh and the original color was an MK2 color I believe. I must have pictures of it somewhere...

I know this is very anal of me, but I love threads like this.

I assume that there must have been a reasonable fixed changeover point i.e. when the old stock ran out. Maybe it depended upon the factory or particular production line ?

I had a very late registered Mk1 (registered in 1968 although I can't tell you the actual build date) and that certainly still had the usual Mk1 housing.

As I noted above, I pretty sure that my very late mk1 used the mk1 style binacle.

The reason tham I am pretty sure is that it was in good condition and is currently in use on one of my other mk1s.

Although I do have an terrible memory so nothing from me should ever be taken as being 100%