22 replies to this topic

[toplessmini]

Sliding windows and external hinge on the doors?

I'm being told it could be MK2 as well..........................

[surfblue63]

Mk2s do have external hinges and sliding windows.

A Mk2 Cooper

[Noah]

The extra drip rail, The front valance and the rear window size are the differences I can remember, the main visual ones that is.

[Joe-C]

The extra drip rail, The front valance and the rear window size are the differences I can remember, the main visual ones that is.

And the grille.

[A-Cell]

And the year

[giner88]

Mark 1s have smaller round lights. where as mk2s have square lights. . . . . . . i think lol

Edited by giner88, 04 January 2013 - 10:40 PM.

[JustSteve]

Mk1........................................... Mk2

Round tail lights..........................same square lights as mk3
Small rear windscreen.................. same larger screen as every later mini
Rounded moustache grille,,,,,,,,,,,,, same style squared grille as every later mini

Edited by JustSteve, 04 January 2013 - 11:00 PM.

[A-Cell]

Mk1 dry suspension, mk2 hydolastic (lift the bonnet, hydolastic pipes from each suspension tower)
Look at rear suspension, hydolastic displaces instead of rubber cones, hydro pipes, no rear dampers, assisted springs

[mk1leg]

Mk1 1959-67, mk11 1967-69....mk1 identifications are Date on wiper motor cover, indicator stalk, floor dip switch, boot latch, just stamped on them..........early mk1s were dry suspension but from 65 went wet till 1973.........

[Artful Dodger]

Where is the dating on the wiper motor? Can't seem to find it on mine! I know it's a mk2 but would like to know the year!

[surfblue63]

On the wiper motor below the type is DR3A The 9 denotes September and the 63 is 1963. 12v is obviously the voltage.

Edited by surfblue63, 05 January 2013 - 12:31 AM.

[The Matt]

Rear lights. Mk1 has rounded ones, mk2 has squarer ones.
There are a few other differences, the drip rail isn't one of them. That was fitted up to mk3 too.

[mab01uk]

The gutter drip rail was not fitted to early Mk1's until May 1960 (or to the later Mk4 Mini's).........parcel shelf central switch aperture is larger on Mk2 onwards Mini's.

[pdaykin]

Potentially, there are quite a few little difference between mk1 and mk2 'shells. But as with a lot of things mini, it isnt as straight forwards as that because changes were introduced incrementally so you may find late mk1's with early mk2 features. Also many of the features will only help you if you are familiar with them.

The Mk1 has a smaller rear window - but unless you are looking at them side by side you may not spot it.

The most obvious difference is the rear panel which on the mk1 has the oval type rear light clusters - but it was popular to chop them out and replace with the square type. MK1's also had piano hinged rear side windows on all but the last few months of production - no Mk2s had them.

The front (mountings for instrument binacle) and rear (larger opening) bulheads are also different - again, only worth knowing if you are familiar with them.

If you can, take lots of pictures and post them up - lot sof people on here will be able to help.

[retrodave]

As mentioned the back window size is the most obvious one, there were stacks of mk1 rip offs in the 80's when the classic car prices were at an all time high, so several naughty folk turned mk2 coopers into mk1's for a premium.

Pretty pointless looking at dates on components, as stuff is often replaced over the years when it breaks.Get the FE number off the car and or reg details if there are any also and check with BMH.