14 replies to this topic

[hunterg30]

Just a question for those who had minis in the 60's upto early 80's,
Did you or anyone you know cut the mk1 and mk2 lights out to be able to fit the lights with reversing lights built in from later cars .?
What other parts did you fit to an early mini from a later one .
Just asking due to someone does not believe early minis were made to look younger unlike now it's the other way round

[imack]

Mk2 light apertures dont need cutting for later reverse light lamps. Mk2 onward grilles got fitted to mk1's to update them. Clubman clocks replacing centre clocks. I fitted factory tinted glass to early mk3.

[nicklouse]

Removed the drip rails.

[imack]

My dad replaced the straight gear lever on his early 1960 with the later model bent version to update it.

[rich_959]

Loads must have gone from Mk1 to Mk2 style front grilles. 

[Anthony30]

just like with modern cars, people wanted them to look newer. We now know this was a silly idea, but back then it was the done thing I guess.

Edited by Anthony30, 07 July 2020 - 02:04 PM.

[mab01uk]

My First Mk1 Mini In 1974

My first '65 Mk1 Morris Mini-Minor (Tweed Grey) shown here in 1974 before and.......just after I had 'upgraded' the badges, door mirrors, grille and rear lights to Mk3, fitted 'Tilling' winding windows, smoke tinted glass, rear wiper, roof aerial, some 6x10 Mambas with 165 Goodyear Rally Specials, centre exit exhaust and new reflective numberplates.

Photos in link:-

http://www.theminifo...1-mini-in-1974/

 

Car & Car Conversions magazine at the time printed an article on how to cut out the Mk1 rear light metalwork to fit the later Mk2/3 lights.

Edited by mab01uk, 07 July 2020 - 02:48 PM.

[imack]

Goodyear rally specials were the tyre of choice.

[dodge44]

This was what you got for 150 quid back in July 1987 so the 'upgrade' didn't add much to the value. 1962 Mk1 with parts from a 1974 Mk3 grafted on. Chromework etc, Full vinyl roof that extended down the rear pillars, the whole of the interior re-coloured black (Yes, including ceiling, EVERYTHING). Even the interior mirror was swapped over. Previous owner kept the alloy wheels.... Quite common to see Mk1's like this at the time - especially the interior makeover. Sorry, pictures not great as had backfocus problem on my Pentax SV at the time.

Attached Files

•  003 3558 RU Jul87tweek.jpg   79.08K   0 downloads
•  002 3558 RU Jul87tweek.jpg   78.7K   0 downloads

Edited by dodge44, 07 July 2020 - 03:52 PM.

[imack]

I updated my 72 with some of those new fangled perspex number plates, some plastic 80's door mirrors, a pop up sunroof and some now very rare compomotive tf alloys. Backdated it with a mk1 Austin Cooper boot badge!
Still got the car but it's a bit different now.

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•  20190925_193537.jpg   48.7K   0 downloads

[nicklouse]

Goodyear rally specials were the tyre of choice.

Hell yes.

[Ethel]

I'm sure it happened. Remember we still had BL parts departments dominating the scene. To Bl it was just another model so I'm pretty sure cosmetic things, like the Mk1 grille, were discontinued pretty quickly. They'd just have flogged you  a Mk2-3 face, or you'd have spent 1/2 an hour in the scrappers.  

 

I reckon the consensus would have been in favour of Mk4 lights, but you were more likely to have repurposed a front fog in the spirit of more is more. Allegro reverse light were obviously an afterthought and I think they were offered as an accessory for Minis, there certainly some Minis with them stuck through the boot lid.

 

I'd say the main drive was to have the more modern features of the competition, so when Mk4's started appearing in the scrappers they soon lost their steering columns for the twin stalks, along with 2 speed wiper & washer motors. Centre speedos definitely looked dated, but you'd have been more likely to try out your woodwork skills & scavenge off other models - Triumphs used plenty of tempting individual instruments.

[Shooter63]

I had a mk1 back in the day, I kept everything as standard, I always thought the mk1 rear lights looked better along with the central clocks and grill, changed the engine/box brakes and dampers though. My Mrs has a 90 mini with the clocks behind the wheel, which just happens the cover the binaclle perfectly so you can see sod all without moving around A bit, some times designers get it right the first time.

Shooter

[surfblue]

This was what you got for 150 quid back in July 1987 so the 'upgrade' didn't add much to the value. 1962 Mk1 with parts from a 1974 Mk3 grafted on. Chromework etc, Full vinyl roof that extended down the rear pillars, the whole of the interior re-coloured black (Yes, including ceiling, EVERYTHING). Even the interior mirror was swapped over. Previous owner kept the alloy wheels.... Quite common to see Mk1's like this at the time - especially the interior makeover. Sorry, pictures not great as had backfocus problem on my Pentax SV at the time.

Loving the 1300 Mk1 Marina in the shot!

 

I had a mk1 back in the day, I kept everything as standard, I always thought the mk1 rear lights looked better along with the central clocks and grill, changed the engine/box brakes and dampers though. My Mrs has a 90 mini with the clocks behind the wheel, which just happens the cover the binaclle perfectly so you can see sod all without moving around A bit, some times designers get it right the first time.

Shooter

The original of any car is often the purest and nicest compared to later updates, to me an original Mk1 is where its at. I never updated my minis, I back dated them changing Mk5 to resemble Mk2 and Mk1s over the years.

[brownspeed]

In 1984 I had a 1964 cooper S (5753 LV) with "modern" rear lights and grille as installed by its previous owner. Sold for £650* in about 1987

 

* Idiot!!