30 replies to this topic

[dudiome]

hey all, i have just started restoring a mk3 mini, i have no identity for the car apart from a commision number that was left, theres no chassis numbers stamped on it anywhere, no plates etc...

it is a twin bolt subframe, drip rails on roof gutters, small petrol tank, non opening rear windows, single piece roof lining inc c posts, the colour is, or at least was, blaze orange and it has the later style gearchange exhaust tunnel, few people have told me its around a 74.
can i get anything from the commision plate to point me closer to getting the chassis number etc?

thanks
scott

[mini-geek]

nothing on the scuttle?

[dudiome]

nothing in scuttle bonnet shut or boot shut, aparently the earlier ones didnt have a stamp, all i have to go from is the commision number, does anyone know if british motor heritage will release any info?

scott

[mk1leg]

early mini did not have vin nos they had commission plates rivited to either rad cowl or front panel near bonnet catchor drivers side inner wing just by bonnet stay rest.............as for finding out the year of production boot latch will have a date stamped on it so will wiper motor ally cover.......

[dudiome]

the wiper motor is non exsistant, did they have an alloy cover? i dont remember seeing a mk3 with one but ive only had 1 other. and the boot latch is the bit that screws to the inside of the bootlid? i think thats still there

thanks
scott

[Dan]

As above, VIN numbers didn't exist before 1980 so not having a number in the scuttle is not a problem. It would be a problem if it did have a number there! Given that it's got the small fuel tank (assuming it's original) the car is earlier than a '74. I believe that tank was deleted in '73 and from the sounds of it you have a '72 shell there. Heritage should be able to give you a build certficate from the commission number. Be careful with how far you go to prove the originality of this car. From the sound of it you have literally got just a shell and no mechanicals at all. If so it would technically be illegal to return this car to the road under its original identity. If you take that for a VIC test it will not get its original identity back. It would need to have two complete and original major assemblies along with the shell to still count as the same car. Given the relevant historic status, if you try to register this as a '72 or '73 car after a period of it being untaxed there's a good chance you will get asked to go for a VIC test. If you can put together a collection of second hand parts that you can prove are all from the same year as the shell you might be able to get an age related plate for it (but not the original), if you use a mixture of untraceable parts and it fails a VIC it will get a Q. In either case it will loose historic status and the reg will be untransferable.

[Bungle]

can you not use new parts to build the mini ?

[Guess-Works.com]

From the good old points scheme, you need not only the original shell, but two other major components from the original vehicle, be it Suspension, Steering, engine or box...

With a little bit of luck Heritage MAY be able to ascertain the identity of the vehicle from the commission number but not always, ideally they prefer to have the chassis number.

[Boycie]

The early style floor that housed the 'remote' change ended in 1973 (850cc only) to make way for the squared tunnel rod setup.

Also, if it's rod change it won't have the little ashtrays in the rear pockets

Check out the bulkhead crossmember in the engine bay. If the depression for the carb jet is shallow, the shell was produced before late '75/early '76 (8-10 months before the single-bolt crossmembers came out to accomodate the 'rubber' subframe). Early 1976 to late '76 had the twin-bolt frame as before but a deep depression in the crossmember to allow for the newly introduced waxstat carb jet.

The smaller 5.5 gallon fuel tank stayed all the way up to 1975/early '76 - my late '75 has one.

Also, the paint may not be Blaze (red) or Vermillion (orange) as there were quite a few similar shades around in the early 70s, for example 'Flamenco' on my car (see sig).

Incidentally, when I was working on ine yesterday I noticed another date stamp.. this time on the mechanism that the interior door handle operates- I'll get a picture for you

Edited by Boycie, 12 April 2010 - 09:54 AM.

[Ethel]

I think fixed side glass makes it an 850 too. Has it got fresh air vents?

[Dan]

I'd missed the mention of the square tunnel in the original post, it seems it it indeed a later car than I thought. I'm quite surprised to find that the 5 1/2 gallon tank is actually listed as being fitted up until 1980 too.

[Boycie]

Subject to bulkhead confirmation, I reckon the orignal circa-1974 estimate is about right.. could be as late as October-ish 1976 though, the mk4 cars arrived quite late in 1976.

[maryquant]

Sorry for the hijack, but does anyone have a picture of the 'small' tank, my 87 mayfair has one in :S Do i assume from this that the tank was not the original for the car then?

[mab01uk]

From the good old points scheme, you need not only the original shell, but two other major components from the original vehicle, be it Suspension, Steering, engine or box...

Suspension, Steering, engine or box... all these wear out and are likely to have been changed over the life of this Mini so how does either side prove these components are original, carbon dating perhaps?

[maryquant]

I doubt the vic tester would be able to tell what came from where. If it is vastly modified, then it would be pretty obvious - but if it 'looks' right im sure they wouldnt raise any questions. Especially as they cant prove it the other way.