14 replies to this topic

[copperhead51]

It seems like i'm going crazy here but I have looked everywhere for the VIN number! I just bought a former track Austin MINI it's 1962 atleast so I'm told. But the previous owner lost the title. The only way i figured its the Austin MINI is that it says Austin on the cover on top of the engine. I've seen VIN decoders and everything, but not actually where the VIN is located, maybe this one was removed or painted over? I'm not sure. This is the first older MINI that I've owned, so I am unfamiliar with these.

Thanks in advance!

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[Tommyboy12]

Before anyone else chastises you (heavily knowing this forum) I will point out that this is a Mini. Not a MINI.

Second the VIN plate should be in the engine bay. Most likely on the inner wing but could be on the slam panel or on the bulkhead. If its not there it was likely removed completely when it was converted to a racer.

Edited by Tommyboy12, 10 September 2011 - 07:31 PM.

[megar4y]

i dont kno a lot about minis but if you open the boot and look just above the boot rubber sometimes they are ther

Edited by megar4y, 10 September 2011 - 07:47 PM.

[less is more]

Not sure on a '62 mini but later ones were stamped in the rain channel for the bonnet just above the brake master cylinder

Andy

[Dan]

There was no such thing as a VIN in Europe until 1980 so it won't have one. It should have a commission and chassis number instead but these are on removable riveted tags on the slam panel and if they are gone they are gone. A tag welded on the slam panel is just a body number and means nothing. Look under the driver's seat on the floor for numbers but it's likely there are none if the plates have been removed.

[copperhead51]

Thank you for all the answers! And note taken: "Mini, definitely not MINI".

Yah, unfortunately everything is completely removed and did not see anything in any of those areas. I was planning on getting this car actually drive-able/legal on the road. I know this is a little off topic but does anyone know if this is possible (like legal wise) with out having any of those commission or chassis numbers and with no title.

[xrocketengineer]

You need to check with your state Dept of Motor Vehicles. You need to have a bill of sale that shows that you obtained the car legally. And convince them that the car has no VIN number because it was converted to a race car. Some states do assign a local VIN number. The biggest issue might be to prove that the car is old enough to be exempt from safety and emission regulations and that depends on the state. The boot lock and the wiper motor assembly have a manufacturing date stamped on that might help on dating the car. See link below:
http://www.minimania...?DisplayID=1804

I hope that helps and good luck,

Ivan

[copperhead51]

Thank you very much for all your help on this topic! That link proved to be most useful I found that this car is either an MkII or III and was made in Feb of 64! I'll have to do some further research!

I should probably post this in a different section but doesn anyone know off hand what engine this is? I am pretty sure its the 997cc but the guy who i bought it from keeps insisting that its a 1.3L I highly highly doubt that it is.



Thanks again!

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[mk1coopers]

It looks like a 997 / 998 unit to me (the core plugs are different on the 1275 as is the head), if it's 1964 it will be a MK 1, the crossmember looks llke it's got Surf Blue paint which would be a correct colour fo this period. Check inside the boot for pop rivited boot board supports as you have Cooper trim around the top of the door in the first picture. The chassis number would have been on a screwed on plate mounted on the radiator surround (which is long gone) as said before start looking for date stamps on components like the wiper motor casing, floor dip switch ect if they are still there

[copperhead51]

The digits on the wiper motor where 2-64 so I'm assuming that means February of 1964, then on the boot lid it just says 44-3 unless the 6 is just vanished. I was reading in that link that the 44 = the week of production then the last two digits refer to the year, but there is just a 3 I'll have to post a pic so you guys can see. Very odd... unless the boot lid was replaced at some point from a 63 model, which would make sense, (on another note, the boot lid is fiberglass, is this normal?) i'll also have to check the radiator shroud which i still have buried somewhere, i do not recall seeing any numbers on it but I'll give it a good second look.

[mk1coopers]

The radiator surround is not the one that attaches to the radiator itself, it's the one that would have originally been on the inner wing that side

http://www.minispare...id=33439&title=

Sorry for any confusion my description may have caused, looks like you have a restorable 1964 Mini, more pictures of the inside of the boot and the floor where the gear change comes through may help to see if it's a Cooper shell. All the original body panels would have been metal, it's not unusual to find race cars with fiberglass / aluminium parts to reduce weight if the race category allowed it

[copperhead51]

Oh it's no problem thank for all your help! Heres some of those pictures of the boot and floor!!

Edited by copperhead51, 12 September 2011 - 06:44 PM.

[copperhead51]

ok heres some pics!

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[mk1coopers]

The correct boot board support for a Cooper is on the bulkhead next to the fuel tank in the last photo, also in the photos of the floor the cut out for the remote looks like a factory one. You will need to do some more research but you may have a 998/997 Cooper in Surf Blue hiding under all the race kit

[copperhead51]

Wow thank you! Thats pretty cool! I'm getting excited, first step is to take everything out, Till its just the body and frame