27 replies to this topic

[Hugh Jass]

I think, it’s a 1989 City e, but that is kind of the point.

 

Bought in bits and I know from help on here that it’s got a seventies A-Series 1098 cc engine. Not concerned about that. I want the car to look like it did in 1989 as much as I can.

 

I assumed that the City e was a special edition with chrome bumpers, black wheel arch trim and blue City badges on it. The back of my car has survived quite well with original paint, but I have, full size wheel trims, go faster stripes, grey trim and no City badges.

 

Does this sound right? Thanks in advance if you can help.

 

 

 

Attached Files

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•  20190102-Wheel_Trim.jpg   39.03K   1 downloads
•  20190102-Wheel_Arch.jpg   25.62K   1 downloads
•  20190102-Chrome_Bmpr.jpg   48.67K   1 downloads

[GraemeC]

The City and E would've had 10" steel wheels with small trims (or optional Exacton alloys).  This trims look like much later one as fitted to Rover models.

[pdaykin]

The city e was the basic entry level. By 89 I don’t think it said city e anymore on the side stickers - just city.

Didn’t have chrome bumpers. IIRC the red city e had black bumpers but the brochure lists it as grey. But some models maybe had a lighter grey - I think most Mayfair models did. I do get the bumper colours mixed up though.

Had fixed rear windows with black surrounds. I also think they had Steel wheels with centre caps - the trims on yours remind me of the surf edition. But you could get trims as dealer add ons anyway.

It only had a single external mirror on drivers side and a radio - not even a cassette player.

Around that time some dealers were producing their own specials to coincide with the 30th birthday. Stickers, wheel trims, sunroofs, etc were common upgrades.

[GraemeC]

I thought the City and E were different things - didn't the E have the 'economy' gearbox?

[Boycie]

The City arrived in 1980ish with 10" wheels and the usual 3.44 diff. The City E came in a year or two later with a 2.95 diff. This lasted until 1984 when the 12" wheels came in and the diff ratio became standardised to a 3.2 iirc.
They kept the 'City E' name for the base model as it was still relevant, but in reality, no different to any other models until the special editions became common in the late 80s.

[Hugh Jass]

Wow, thank you for all the information. 

[Wiggy]

Judging by a few brochures online. Yours is 1988 model, albeit registered in 1989. As said above, City E was dropped for the 1989 models.

[DeadSquare]

Hi BBS, is it on 12" wheels?

[Itsaminithing]

Gosh, shock horror!!!! A Mini City incorrectly marked on the V5 as a City E.... that's never happened before -apart from the fact that the majority of Aug 88 on Mini City were registered as being a City E.

Not surprising really the dealerships had 2 years of entering Mini City on registration documents, then 6 years of entering City E, only to have the City name resurrected in Aug 88.

 

This is what a 1988/89 Mini City should look like- http://car-from-uk.c...le.php?id=99904

& for comparison a late City E https://www.ebay.co....ZLVjd:rk:2:pf:0

[pdaykin]

I think the price lists still listed them as City E even though the badge only said City.

I remember discussing that with salesmen back when I was looking to buy new minis.

Maybe it was a crossover point and confusing to a simple buyer like me - must have been 'because we bought a metro City X instead

Edited by pdaykin, 03 January 2019 - 04:22 PM.

[CityEPete]

At least you got 'Rover', some are listed as Austin, Austin Rover, probably even a Morris or BL knocking around especially if they've been out the country and re registered.

[MIGLIACARS]

I thought the e was an auto.

 

I have a 1988 city e its an auto

[Wiggy]

Auto was an option. I think 'e' was for economy, due to a taller final drive.

[Itsaminithing]

Economy engine -2.95 FD & a high compression head.

(If Hugh Jass has a City the FD would have been 3.1)

[Wiggy]

I remember 25 years ago, my Aunt's Metro had 4th gear marked as 'E' on the gear knob. Funny how things spark distant memories. I would have been about 10.