13 replies to this topic

[2-alex-2]

Hello everyone so im new here and looking at buying a mini tomorrow. i have done a bit of research on the car and it says its an italian job mini on a k 1992 is that the correct age for that vertion of a mini. also will be looking for the vin number which should be on the inside of the wings i believe but that what i have read of here but one thing is that people say that its also in the drip tray of the bonnet at the back. so should it bethere ? also that car has been resprayed so if its been sanded and resprayed will it still be there and if its not there should i worry if it been reshelled ? and las thing is where these seats ever in a cooper as he is stating they are original cooper ones he brought of ebay but i have been search this site and many other around and can only see them in a mini flam, check mate and racing green which came out in 1990. any help will be much appriciated.

thanks alex

[2-alex-2]

anyone ?

[Bungle]

that pic looks like a 1990 mainstream cooper interior

[2-alex-2]

wow thanks for that well at least i know the guy isnt trying to rip me of with them. is there anything to worry about if i cant find the vin across the bonnect lid try part?

[2-alex-2]

well went to see this mini and acording to the vin list its maybe a city am i correct

VIN

The general format for the VIN for these cars is:

This was the start of it

SAX-XN-Y-A-D-B-B-D-######

VIN, First Three Positions (“SAX” in the above example)

= World Make Identifier.

SAX = MG-Rover

VIN, Fourth and Fifth Positions (“XN” in the above example):

XN = Mini 1300

VIN, Sixth Position (“N” in the above example):

= Class

N = Sport, Cooper, Cabriolet
V = Kensington
W = HLS, Mayfair
Y = City, Sprite

VIN, Seventh Position (“A” in the above example):

= Body type

A = 2-door saloon/sedan.
B = Cabriolet

VIN, Eighth Position (“Y” in the above example):

= Engine

D = 1300 Carb
M = 1300 Carb
X = 1300 SPi (standard compression ratio, 9.4:1)
Y = 1300 SPi (high compression ratio, 10.1:1)
Z = 1300 MPi (high compression ratio, 10.1:1)

VIN, Ninth Position (“B” in the above example):

= RHD/LHD, Transmission type, Final Drive

B = RHD, Manual, 3.105
C = RHD, Manual, 3.21
E = RHD, Manual, 2.76
K = RHD, Automatic
M = LHD, Manual, 3.105
N = LHD, Manual, 3.21
R = LHD, Manual, 2.76
Y = LHD, Automatic

VIN, Tenth Position (“B” in the above example):

= Model Change

A = 1300 Special Edition
B = 1300

VIN, Eleventh Position (“D” in the above example):

= Assembly Plant

D = Longbridge

VIN, Number positions (“######” in the above example):

= The sequential build number:

Starting with 010001

Edited by 2-alex-2, 23 October 2011 - 02:17 PM.

[2-alex-2]

any one could this still be a italian job mini ? need to know as i might get this if it is genuinly one

Edited by 2-alex-2, 23 October 2011 - 09:32 PM.

[L400RAS]

any one could this still be a italian job mini ?

Yes, but I don't think the VIN will confirm this. Just look for the clues on the car:

Taken from Wikipedia:
Mini Italian Job

• Year: 1992 (October)
• Based on: Mini Mayfair
• Engine: 1275cc
• Exterior colour:

• Flame Red (COF - BLVC818)
• Metallic British Racing Green (HAM - BLVC1216)
• Diamond White (NMN - BLVC655)
• Electric Blue (NMN - BLVC655)

• Exterior trim: Body-coloured wing mirrors, white grilles, black bumpers.
• Decals/badges: Bonnet stripes, "Italian Job" badge, crossed Italian and British flag decals
• Interior: Black tweed, three-spoke steering wheel with Italian flag on steering wheel and front seats
• Equipment: Tinted glass, twin driving lamps, opening rear quarter windows
• Production: 1,000 for UK, 750 for Italy

Now you already have mentioned it has the standard Cooper seats, NOT the original ones with the Italian flag sewn into the seats..

[Aria Aradhea]

Perhaps this link (from Rob Lightbody's excellent website) could help you even further: http://www.roblightb...italian_job.htm

As for the seats, Mainstream Coopers and Mini Flame / Racing uses the same "Crayons" pattern but with a little difference. The Flame/Racing seats has the Crayon pattern from the lower half of the seat's backs until the half of the seat's base as you have on your pic link. The Cooper has the Crayon pattern on the middle of the seat from top to base, the sides using black cloth without pattern.

Hope my (very unclear) answer helps....

[2-alex-2]

hey thanks for the info. well its hard to tell from the standard italian job as

1 its been re sprayed a blue colour(but was oatmeal green before the owner sprayed it even inside under the carpet it was still oatmeal green but no italian job colours)
2 it had plastic windows but got replaced with new glass ones so can say weather thier original or not
3 as stated before has different seat and also a glassfiber dash
4 another dought about it was i couldnt find the vin number on the chassis just on the plate which was on the drivers side inner wing not stamp in the bonnet rail

Edited by 2-alex-2, 24 October 2011 - 06:00 PM.

[2-alex-2]

does any one on here have a italian job mini who could tell me the start to thier one ?

[L400RAS]

hey thanks for the info. well its hard to tell from the standard italian job as

1 its been re sprayed a blue colour(but was oatmeal green before the owner sprayed it even inside under the carpet it was still oatmeal green but no italian job colours)
2 it had plastic windows but got replaced with new glass ones so can say weather thier original or not
3 as stated before has different seat and also a glassfiber dash
4 another dought about it was i couldnt find the vin number on the chassis just on the plate which was on the drivers side inner wing not stamp in the bonnet rail

1. oatmeal green = not an original italian job
2. Plastic windows? No mini had plastic windows (as standard)... all were glass
3. Glass fibre dash, ie non original.
4. Perhaps has had a replacement scuttle, not uncommon for a 1992 car

does any one on here have a italian job mini who could tell me the start to thier one ?

As i said earlier, the VIN will not confirm if it is a true Italian Job or not. It only tells you the info you have listed in #5. There is no sequential list available of Italian Jobs.

Post a photo of the outside and inside on here for visual confirmation from a member, but from the sounds of it, its not going to be an I.J. - but does that matter?

[2-alex-2]

yea the points that i pointed out i knew that it wasent an original colour so i think it has either been reshelled or vin and number plate transfered at some point. i think i wil give up on this mini and try another one looking at a cooper as well but havent gone to see it yet. it wouldnt matter if it wasnt an original if the owner wasnt so adiment that it was and the fact it might not actualy be one just make me think there is more to it and might be more porblems as well and looked at the water in the radiator and was brown with rust so think it had also over heated at some point as well so thanks for the help and much apriciated.

alex

Edited by 2-alex-2, 24 October 2011 - 08:32 PM.

[L400RAS]

and might be more porblems as well and looked at the water in the radiator and was brown with rust so think it had also over heated at some point as well

It will be brown and rusty and horrible colour. That is nothing really to worry about, perhaps a quick rad flush is required. It is not a sign of overheating.

[2-alex-2]

there was dirty water marks in that corner as if it had presurised and the cap had poped as well. im looking at a 93 (k) cooper now any way so thanks for all the help again

alex