33 replies to this topic

[ChrisL]

Hi,

Wondered if there is any difference between a 1962 mk1 shell and a 1967 mk1 shell please?

Thanks

[taffy1967]

It depends where the shell came from and if it's a bog standard MK1 Mini then it'll have a magic wand gear selector hole. But if it's a Cooper shell, it'll have a remote gear shift type hole instead.

Are you sure the 1967 Mini is a MK1, because the MK2 got launched in October 1967.

[ChrisL]

The 62 car is a Cooper and the 67 is standard. It has the small rear lights and external hinges so assume its a mk1.

How else do you tell if its a mk2 shell?

[Dan]

The rear lights and rear screen are different in a mk2 for a start.

I think a '62 car will have the smaller pressing in the front floor pan.

[flamenco]

the 1962 shell should also have a full skirt front valence which were available up to 1964 i think.

[ChrisL]

Thanks, I'm going to check the rear screen size.
The floors and valance will be changed anyway.

What about the roof gutter?

[Dan]

Why are you changing the floors and front panel?

[taffy1967]

Thanks, I'm going to check the rear screen size.
The floors and valance will be changed anyway.

What about the roof gutter?

I think the roof gutter on both models should have a drip rail running down the side?

[ChrisL]

Why are you changing the floors and front panel?

They are rusty!!

[GreaseMonkey]

I think the roof gutter on both models should have a drip rail running down the side?

Yup both the Mk1 and Mk2 had it and early 70s

[taffy1967]

I think the roof gutter on both models should have a drip rail running down the side?

Yup both the Mk1 and Mk2 had it and early 70s

My first Mini which was a 1975 MK3 Mini 1000 had it too and I believe it disappeared when the MK4 Mini got launched in 1976.

[ChrisL]

Thanks for the information, basically I've bought a 1962 997 Cooper but the shell is wrecked. I have chance of a 1967 mk1 shell and wanted to make sure it would be a suitable as a donor.
i dont want to complete the restoration and have somebody say "thats not an original 1962 Cooper because....."

[Dan]

Unfortnately that's not legal, at least not if you are in the UK.

[Pitcrew6464]

depends if he is using the 67 shell as panels for the 62 car, then its a normal restoration.

[mab01uk]

Unfortnately that's not legal, at least not if you are in the UK.

No VIN number was stamped into a 1960's Mk1 bodyshell so why or how is anyone going to prove he used panels or otherwise? and why should anyone care if it is done with careful attention to detail, to restore and save such a rare car from oblivion. An awful lot of Mk1 Mini Cooper & S out there have been lovingly rebuilt or restored over the last 40 odd years around an ex-'one old lady owner Mk1 850 Auto shell' for instance, whether due to accident damage in competition or the ravages of rust............including the BMC Competition Dept. for most of the Ex-works Minis who regularly swapped shells, Chassis plates and Austin/Morris identities from one rally to another! Perhaps we should encourage the owners of such Minis to hand them all over to Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson so they can be crushed along with all the other Classic Minis that have disappeared into their scrappage scheme and just retain the few that can somehow prove they still have their original shell?

Edited by mab01uk, 13 December 2009 - 09:37 AM.