9 replies to this topic

[Mighty made]

It's time to get painting on my White mini 35. and I am unsure of the sill colour. I thought that it was originally the same colour as the car, but my painter thinks it was black. I'd like to keep it as original as possible, so if anyone knows, I'd appreciate the advice

[sonikk4]

I should imagine from the factory it would have been white. If it was black it,s possible it had been under sealed etc after delivery.

[lewBlew]

They were body colour, as would have been most of the underside, inner wheel arches etc. Look at concourse cars and brochures. Most sensible people will have had the whole lot undersealed since though

[AVV IT]

As above, they tended to be body coloured as standard, but due to the classic minis reputation for rotten sills, it was common to cover them in bitumen based underseal to try and protect them from corrosion, something that wasn't all that effective as sills tend to rot from the inside out! 

 

Most sensible people will have had the whole lot undersealed since though

 

I can't say that I agree with that! Don't get me wrong, bitumen based underseal is an OK product for your average daily drive if used correctly, but the stuff has a nasty reputation of sealing moisture & corrosion in, so that panels rot silently away behind it, plus there are much better rust proofing products out there these days. If you're serious about preserving a classic car, then underseal actually tends to be rather frowned upon nowadays, which is partly why you'll see various threads here about how to get the darn stuff off!

 

Using a series of comprehensive rustproofing measures is much more effective than just slarring underseal over an exposed area. Etch primer followed by zinc primer, or a modern epoxy based primer, then stone chip, followed by body coloured paint tends to be a much better option, and also looks much less unsightly.

[Mighty made]

Thanks for the swift reply. I have new sills, that have been etch primed and antichip coated inside and out. Dynotrol wax has been sprayed in, so a two pack final colour coat?.

The sills were black when I got the car, but there were patches on both sides. The mini 35 brochure doesn't have an exterior white car, just the usual red and blue ones. My memory was that Longbridge never sprayed sills black. When the Rover 75 migrated from Cowley, it lost the sill blacking in the move

[Marco1972]

Hi

They were all body colour when they left Longbridge if that's any help to you

I have just fitted a new sill and will be painting it body colour but as everyone else has stated rust protection is key here and it's down to personal choice if you go the colour route or black..

[minidaves]

most sensible people do not put underseal near there classic mini, paint and waxoyl and keep your car clean.

[lewBlew]

OK I'll rephrase it:

 

Most sensible people in the 60s/70s/80s/90s would have had their car undersealed at some point, especially the oversills.

[Mighty made]

Thanks very much,  car is back and looks the business.

Sills stonechipped and in body colour with 2 pack clearcoat

dripping with waxoyl.

[Tamworthbay]

Bilthamber Dynax UC is a high performance clear wax that works brilliantly over body coloured paint. I have never used it on white though, most waxes tend to make white look yellowy brown.