14 replies to this topic

[orangeteg]

Hello, i recently bought a mk2 mini but the shell is a mess so a friend got a spare mk3 shell..can i transfer the doors+boot into that shell? Are there any other differences between those shells?

[CLM]

boot yes doors no, the mk2 will have smaller external hinge doors and the mk3 larger internal hinge doors.

to illustrate, mk1/2 doors set in a mk4(same doors as mk3) shell...



Chris

Edited by CLM, 28 February 2012 - 09:38 AM.

[Ivor Badger]

the Mk3 with doors weighs about the same as a Mk2 without.

[giner88]

Hello, i recently bought a mk2 mini but the shell is a mess so a friend got a spare mk3 shell..can i transfer the doors+boot into that shell? Are there any other differences between those shells?

i'd try and keep the Mk2 shell and repair it. More value fo resale then as its a more genuine Mk2.

[orangeteg]

ok guys thanks a lot :)

[mk3 Cooper S]

Or add stick on hinges and sliding windows if you are planning a logbook special

[Guess-Works.com]

boot yes doors no, the mk2 will have smaller external hinge doors and the mk3 larger internal hinge doors.

to illustrate, mk1/2 doors set in a mk4(same doors as mk3) shell...



Chris

That's a really good illustration of the difference

[Guess-Works.com]

Adding to the above, the MK3 got a slight change in it's floor pan when they went from the remote/magic wand gearbox to the rod change, circa 1973, where it got it's now familiar squarer tunnel.

Edited by Guess-Works.com, 28 February 2012 - 12:34 PM.

[jon_dec]

Adding to the above, the MK3 got a slight change in it's floor pan when they went from the remote/magic wand gearbox to the rod change, circa 1973, where it got it's now familiar squarer tunnel.

I do have an early MK3 shell, and it still has the "boss" in the tunnel where the starter button was fitted in the even older MK1's

[Guess-Works.com]

Adding to the above, the MK3 got a slight change in it's floor pan when they went from the remote/magic wand gearbox to the rod change, circa 1973, where it got it's now familiar squarer tunnel.

I do have an early MK3 shell, and it still has the "boss" in the tunnel where the starter button was fitted in the even older MK1's

Correct, the mk3 is considered to be those minis built between 1969 and 1976, ie comes in with the introduction of internal hinges, and ends with the introduction of the turret & rubber mounted front subframe, but mid marque, the introduction of the rod change gearbox introduced the change of the tunnel shape

[SolarB]

Never knew there was so much difference in the doors.

[tiger99]

I am intrigued. Having owned Mk 1, 2, and 3, but not simultaneoulsy, I knew that the doors were different shapes. But in the picture there is a large gap at the top, although the door bottom and crease at waist height line up. Does that mean that the MK3 shell has a higher roofline?

[CLM]

Not really, I would estimate my door is probably 1/8 inchy or so low in that picture due to it just sitting there and not being attached, but here is the big difference in height.

Mk4



Mk1



They are nasty blurry but it's still obvious

Chris

[craig 1010cc]

Also the mk2 will be a twin bolt front subframe, not sure when in the mk3 it went to single bolt.

[jon_dec]

Also the mk2 will be a twin bolt front subframe, not sure when in the mk3 it went to single bolt.

The MK3 went to "single bolt" when... MK4 was introduced