mk1-forum.net

I recently purchased this mini and I'm starting to restore it, trying to do some research into what it is as there are a few unusual features on it. It apears to be a MK2 but it has the later type rear bulkhead/seat back, the dash has been made to a high standard, lots of extra fuses and relays added to the loom, rear wiper and washer, bucket seats, different bumpers, indicators on the wings and there is a large engine brace bar running from the front of the gearbox to the back of the subframe. If anyone has any info it would be much apprciated. I believe the origional reg is either LOC 898F or LOC 890F, thanks.

You have a rare combination there, the engine looks like a genuine 998 Cooper, having a 12G295 head & 'D' pistons, but lacking the twin carbs & exhaust system. The external door hinges suggest Mk1 or Mk2 but the big fresh air intake for the heater in the O/S inner wing looks like Mk3 or later. You have Clubman rear bumpers at both ends, like the HL models of the early 80's. A rare mixture that looks like it has been owned by 'enthusiasts' in the past. Nevertheless, it's a formidable challenge to restore & I wish you the greatest of success with it. It's great to see a Mini like that brought back to life in pristine condition.

thats great!

i love all the period stuff, are you keeping it (or some of it?)

using clubman rear bumpers on the front and rear was a mid 1970's 'hop-up' trick, probably to try and make the base model look a little more modern.

its a shame its so rough, it would have been great if its had been in a state where you could have just mot'd it and used it with all the 'tat' on it....

Just seen this on the MCR forum

Looks a right state if I was you I'd brace that Shell ASAP

and Clubmen bumpers front and rear are cool a firend of mine has just done this to his "Rat" mini

Also loving the after market rear wiper set up looks cool.

shame someone didn't use right inner wings but then again dosen't look like it has the right bulk head on it to begin with you're properly got a later mark 3 but someones converted it to mark 2 or used alot of later parts in the pervoius restoration

but wish you best of luck!

Stephen

RidingLow wrote:
you're properly got a later mark 3 but someones converted it to mark 2 or

thats a mk2 shell, but id guess it was a factory replacement, hence the later rear bulkhead and both types of hinge bracket on the front bulkhead

ive seen factory replacement early mk3 shells with the solid rear bulkhead and odd features like this - i guess they used what they had as 'current production'


it will be interesting if you can find the older owners of the car

Hi & welcome


Agree- thats a MK II shell, and you have the body number intact

The body no is the long thin plate, sitting on your slam panel, infront of the generator.
It has big reverse stamped digits & numbers, take great care of this, as you cant get a new one.

Saw the original radiator was there too its build by the same company that made mine.

Your project has loads of "Coachbuild" tricks on it, those side indicators were also used by Wood & Pickett.

I have never seen a twinstalk, with the MK II type arms this car has loads of stuff/tricks done to it

Hope you will retain some of those cool accessories it has.


Jens Christian

Nice find, I love the panel with the 12 switches.
What is the thing with the tube, ending in front of the radio ?

That is a Butler map light, I'm sure.

What type of gearshift is that ? looks like a iron tube in that tunnel ?

I suspect the radiator is a repair as the only ones I have seen with manufacturers labels are reconditioned.

ivor badger wrote:I suspect the radiator is a repair as the only ones I have seen with manufacturers labels are reconditioned.

My car had its original radiator with Coventry Radiator Presswork LTD top,
same as the one I fitted this year = viewtopic.php?f=6&t=611&start=190

This was fitted becourse the radiator company lost/replaced my original top, when they rebuilt it


Both had a extra "badge" soldered to the casing, .

This "new" one had a Marston Radiator Service badge soldered on.
I cant remember what the original one was ? (almost 6 years since I saw it).
I asume these are the subcontractors, that British Leyland got their radiators from. '

My badge has a serial no, and its HIGH, so that indicates they build many radiators.

And no matter how poor the quality of the Mini was, I wont belive they had to rebuilt THAT many radiators

It would also be VERY unusual if I was to find 2 reconditioned radiators from a British company here in Denmark,
as we have our own companies that restore radiators.

I am sure someone inhere will know more ?



Jens Christian

Lord Croker wrote:You have a rare combination there, the engine looks like a genuine 998 Cooper, having a 12G295 head & 'D' pistons, but lacking the twin carbs & exhaust system. The external door hinges suggest Mk1 or Mk2 but the big fresh air intake for the heater in the O/S inner wing looks like Mk3 or later. You have Clubman rear bumpers at both ends, like the HL models of the early 80's. A rare mixture that looks like it has been owned by 'enthusiasts' in the past. Nevertheless, it's a formidable challenge to restore & I wish you the greatest of success with it. It's great to see a Mini like that brought back to life in pristine condition.

Clubman bumpers, thanks for clearing that up I wasnt sure what to make of them

JC T ONE wrote:Hi & welcome


Agree- thats a MK II shell, and you have the body number intact

The body no is the long thin plate, sitting on your slam panel, infront of the generator.
It has big reverse stamped digits & numbers, take great care of this, as you cant get a new one.

Saw the original radiator was there too its build by the same company that made mine.

Your project has loads of "Coachbuild" tricks on it, those side indicators were also used by Wood & Pickett.

I have never seen a twinstalk, with the MK II type arms this car has loads of stuff/tricks done to it

Hope you will retain some of those cool accessories it has.


Jens Christian

Thanks for the reply, I havn't seen the twinstalk either so I think I will keep them along with some of the other items, make the car a bit more interesting I think

RidingLow wrote:Just seen this on the MCR forum

Looks a right state if I was you I'd brace that Shell ASAP

and Clubmen bumpers front and rear are cool a firend of mine has just done this to his "Rat" mini

Also loving the after market rear wiper set up looks cool.

shame someone didn't use right inner wings but then again dosen't look like it has the right bulk head on it to begin with you're properly got a later mark 3 but someones converted it to mark 2 or used alot of later parts in the pervoius restoration

but wish you best of luck!

Stephen

Yeh the shell is a mess, going to part strip it and then heavily brace it before I start the major work. But I think it might be passed the point where bracing would help now, surely the damage will already have been done?

JC T ONE wrote:What type of gearshift is that ? looks like a iron tube in that tunnel ?

Its a remote gearshift, but if you are refering to this picture then the steel tube next to the exhaust is an engine brace bar running from the front of the gearbox to the back of the front subframe.

Id brace it now before stripping it even if it gets in the way better than it twisting and getting any worse

minical wrote:
the steel tube next to the exhaust is an engine brace bar running from the front of the gearbox to the back of the front subframe.

thanks for clearing that up, I thought it might have been some fancy aftermarket gearshift.

I think the dash is awesome, hope you will keep that too.

Is the radio a Radiomobile ?

RidingLow wrote:Id brace it now before stripping it even if it gets in the way better than it twisting and getting any worse

Good point, will get some steel and make a start on that then

JC T ONE wrote:

minical wrote:
the steel tube next to the exhaust is an engine brace bar running from the front of the gearbox to the back of the front subframe.

thanks for clearing that up, I thought it might have been some fancy aftermarket gearshift.

I think the dash is awesome, hope you will keep that too.

Is the radio a Radiomobile ?

Yeh the dash is nice, I do prefer them when they keep the speedo in the middle, but I have a lot to keep me busy before I can think about the dash. Yeh it is a Radiomobile, don't think I will be keeping the radio or the speaker though.

minical wrote:
Yeh it is a Radiomobile

Wood & Pickett used these, I also noticed what seem to be Yale locks on the doors.

Another item W&P used, seems like the previus owner knew his "Bling"