14 replies to this topic

[Bullet]

I’ve just taken the engine out and started to strip my 1968 Mini 850 Van totally ready to do the body work and noticed when I remove things in places there is a lot of a light green colour, the van itself has previously been sprayed blue (lots of over spray) many years ago before I got it.

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The V5 Colour is “Blue”

Can you and if so how do you work out colour code from VIN number?

Is the green primer or original colour?

I’ve looked through Roo’s colour guide but there's no pictures of this green, so it could be one of the codes but how do I tell?

The pictures are not that good but you can just about see the green colour on the bulkhead.

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Although not my first project it’s the first where it has not just repair/modifying
I intend to restore the van back to standard complete with magic wand gear box it has in it, so would like to get the colour correct.

So any other information available colours for period van from 1968 would be appreciated.

Thanks

[mini-man-dan]

If it's still got the original inner front wings there should be a plate stamped on the passenger side with 4 or 5 numbers on. I believe this is the paint code. This was where the one in my Pickup was anyway, so I'm presuming it'll be the same.

Refer to here for a match:
LINK

If you want to have a look some more, I'd go where the battery is kept behind the driver's seat and have a look upwards at the floor of the bed. It may still be painted original colour.

Dan

[surfblue63]

My guess is your van was one of these colours





The two colours are Everglade Green (GN42) and Willow Green (GN33) but I can't remember which is which

[midridge2]

remember, you could buy a van/pick up in primer and paint it yourself so there would not be a paint code on the bodyl.

[Bullet]

Thanks for the help so far.

I had a look around the van and removed a few more bits and there is lots more of this colour.

The only plate I could find apart from vin plate and coommission plate had "FF1174469" on it???

I do like the colour of that Pick-up, so my van could end up that colour.

[Boycie]

Is the plate starting 'FF' on the floor? If so that's the floor number, there's a similar one on the inner wing starting 'FE'. That stands for front end.

As you probably know, the Mini was bulit in sections, that were eventually all spot-welded together, the front end and floor numbers are just serial numbers for the particular assemblies.

I have a database of floor and front end numbers, (the Mini Cooper Register has a near complete database IIRC); if presented with these and a chassis/ commission number, you can easily tell if the car is a fake or been built up from another bodyshell. The FF/FE numbers increase with time... as does the chassis number.

Most people bin all plates apart from the VIN, but that is usually to disguise a re-shell. An original car with its original floor number, front end number etc is worth much more IMO, so much more genuine.

[Bullet]

The plate starting "FF" is not on the floor it's on the inner wing just above the radiator.

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The commission plate is on the other inner wing.

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The van has had a few floors as the last one that you can put you feet through has been welded on top of an older one, same with sills, the front end is actually pretty solid, apart from inner wings so probably not original apart from inner wings.

Inside the back of the van it had been lined with square foam, soundproofing? After scraping some of this off, it revealed more green paint work.

[Guess-Works.com]

Easy way is apply for a heritage certificate and it'll tell you the exact spec of the vehicle when manufactured...

[Bullet]

Easy way is apply for a heritage certificate and it'll tell you the exact spec of the vehicle when manufactured...

Thanks, good idea.

After a quick google search I found this link

http://www.heritage-...chive-services/

Is this the only place or are there different companies that offer a heritage certificate.
If multiple companies can you recommend one.

Thanks again.

Edited by Bullet, 30 March 2011 - 06:37 AM.

[Guess-Works.com]

It's the only place...

[Bullet]

Heritage Certificate has now been applied for.

I’m hoping for one of the greens above as prefer over the blue.

Thank you all for all your help.

[Rosslin Racing]

Heritage Certificate has now been applied for.

I’m hoping for one of the greens above as prefer over the blue.

Thank you all for all your help.

it takes at least 30 days remember I thought they had forgotten me. bless them.

[Bullet]

I read that part about the lead time.

I will probably have forgotten all about it by the time it gets to me, so it will be a nice surprise in the post when it does finally arrive.

As you can see from the first photo I’ve only just started and trust me when I say there is a lot of welding to be done! So am in no particular hurry as only doing in my spare time.

[Boycie]

Looks like an excellent project though, early vans are very sought-after.. and yours has the correct shell, the FF number tallies with a vehicle built around 1968.
The blue looks like Teal Blue (particularly in the engine bay) but I agree, one of the greens would look just right

I have a '77 van and it will be Brooklands Green. It's too late for your early van but still a flat colour- very suited to commercials!

[Bullet]

Heritage Certificate came back.

The origanal colour is Willow Green, so thats what it will be.

Thanks for all your help everyone.