15 replies to this topic

[Deev]

Morning all,

Time to probe the fountain of all knowledge... Does anyone know whether an 85 City E would originally have had a single clock round binnacle or a three clock oval binnacle? I'm pretty sure the City E would have only had the one clock, but my mate seems to think the three...?

Cheers

[998dave]

Single centre binnacle for a 1985 City, but in 1985 they did change to the two offset clocks infront of the driver.

Dave

[Deev]

This is what I thought - as the other two Smiths would have been temp and oil pressure (?), and the 998 in the motor in question doesn't even have an oil pressure sensor fitted.

[(philip)]

Hmph!

[blacktulip]

i might be wrong but i thought is was 83 when they changed?

[liirge]

No my 84 has a binnacle, one of the last of the Mk4's

[taffy1967]

The last Mini to get the classic oval dash pod was the Mini 1000 in 1980.

The Mini City E retained the single classic cyclops oval Smiths Instruments speedometer which also housed the fuel gauge and warning lights up until October 1985, when it inherited the Mini Clubman twin dash pod set-up instead. (The Mini Mayfair got the 1275GT triple pack which incorporated the rev counter at that time).

I can remember reading the passing of the Minis centrally mounted speedometer in a Mini mag at the time and they bemoaned it's loss as the Mini was losing it's classic utilitarian appeal. I agree also due to the fact they switched from Smiths instruments to Nippon Seiki gauges instead, which aren't as good and aren't as easy to repair (no replaceable voltage regulator).

Edited by taffy1967, 12 March 2010 - 09:25 PM.

[taffy1967]

This is how the Mini range looked at the time of it's 25th birthday in 1984 and all Mini models got the 12" wheels and 8.4" discs as standard from October 1984 when it entered it's MK5 phase: -



So the central speedometer was still present on the MK5 Mini for a short time via the Mini City E and I once owned a 1985 beast myself.

[Deev]

Christ, is that brochure for real?

[taffy1967]

Afraid so, even though the blonde does look a bit like Pauline Calf of Paul & Pauline Calf fame (i.e. Steve Coogan): -

[998dave]

(The Mini Mayfair got the 1275GT triple pack which incorporated the rev counter at that time).

My 85 Mayfair and my ex's 84 Mayfair both only got the twin pod. So did they change in late 85?

[leaky]

I have an 83 city e with the 2 clock set up in front of the driver. And its an 110 mph one as well. I want to fit the center one in at some point though.

[pdaykin]

Yes, the change was in late '85

[Dan]

and the 998 in the motor in question doesn't even have an oil pressure sensor fitted.

It shouldn't have if it has a pressure gauge. The standard pressure gauge is mechanical and so doesn't use a sender, cars fitted with a gauge as standard have no warning lamp so there is no oil sensor of any kind on the engine.

[taffy1967]

I have an 83 city e with the 2 clock set up in front of the driver. And its an 110 mph one as well. I want to fit the center one in at some point though.

Not standard then I'm afraid.