16 replies to this topic

[Richie83]

My 1996 Spi is currently in for restoration. I am fitting a mk 1 grille and glass indicators. I am torn on bonnet badges:
- option 1 fit the boring crossed badge that came on the car
- go whole hog and fit Morris cooper badge
- compromise and fit the MK3 badge (granted this is even more Frankenstein but I prefer the blue badge to the one the car came with)
- fit no badge

Would love your opinions on the above. Is it weird to fit a different mk badge? What will look best.

[jpw1275]

Hi.... there is no best look so to speak as its all down to personal taste , if your car isnt standard then it doesnt really matter

cheers james

[Cooperman]

My grandson did a full restoration on a 1997 MPI and he fitted a Mk.1 grille, removed the wheel arch extensions and fitted an early Morris badge which he found in my stock of bits. He fitted an early 'MINI MINOR' boot badge. I had to admit that it looked really good and with no wheel arch extensions it looks a so much cleaner design. (ignore the date on this photo).

 

[cal844]

on my cars my dad used the rover badges but painted them :)  

 

 

http://s922.photobuc.../?sort=3&page=1

  have a browse at my photobucket account

Edited by cal844, 24 November 2014 - 01:27 PM.

[Richie83]

My grandson did a full restoration on a 1997 MPI and he fitted a Mk.1 grille, removed the wheel arch extensions and fitted an early Morris badge which he found in my stock of bits. He fitted an early 'MINI MINOR' boot badge. I had to admit that it looked really good and with no wheel arch extensions it looks a so much cleaner design. (ignore the date on this photo).
 

Cool, thanks Cooperman. Did he have standard back lights too?

[AVV IT]

I'm of the opinion that Cooper badging is kinda special (at least it is on classic minis anyway), so unless it came out of the factory as one, or has had an authentic/genuine Cooper conversion, then in my opinion it shouldn't really be badged as such. My Sprite is styled as a Rover cooper in almost every way, including the bonnet stripes, contrasting roof, interior, leather bound Cooper steering wheel etc. It just has a winged 1275 badge on the front though, it isn't actually a Cooper, so I don't think it would be right to badge it as such.

Obviously this is just my feelings on the matter though, opinions on it will differ and at the end of the day, it's your car, so you need to do what you feel comfortable with.

[Cooperman]

 

My grandson did a full restoration on a 1997 MPI and he fitted a Mk.1 grille, removed the wheel arch extensions and fitted an early Morris badge which he found in my stock of bits. He fitted an early 'MINI MINOR' boot badge. I had to admit that it looked really good and with no wheel arch extensions it looks a so much cleaner design. (ignore the date on this photo).
 

Cool, thanks Cooperman. Did he have standard back lights too?

 

 

Yes, the rears were left standard. It is a lot of work to fit the Mk.1 lights and they are a bit small and not as safe as the larger Mk.2 onwards. In fact, in the late 60's we used to fit the larger Mk.2 rear lights to our Mk.1 rally cars to improve safety.

That car has now been sold and grandson has a Mondeo Titanium TDCi Auto for the road. He can always drive my Cooper 'S' whenever he wants to and he is restoring an MGB-GT, with a bit of help from me, as a more useable classic than a Mini.

[Yams]

I think it's all a personal taste thing. However here are some of the things that make me cringe, and maybe other mini owners too when it comes to this.

 

Morris badge and a MK1 Austin grille, or vice versa.

Fitting Morris badges to Austins vice versa.

When things are badged as coopers when they aren't. it might look good, but thats like putting AMG on a non AMG merc, or Abarth on a standard fiat. 

 

This is of course my own opinions, it's your mini so you need to do what is best for your fulfillment!

Edited by Yams, 24 November 2014 - 04:05 PM.

[b_sdaddy]

Fitted 'new' grille & over-riders to my Mk3 (1978) & included an 'AUSTIN' badge to go the whole hog!

 

(The original black grille and blue-cross bonnet badge just had too go)

 

Completely down to how it 'looks' & have absolutely no idea if the badge/grill combo are from the same car/era, but hey, that was never the intention.

 

Go for it, it's your car![attachment=167030:1 HVX 062a.JPG]

 

 

 

 

[jpw1275]

Fitted 'new' grille & over-riders to my Mk3 (1978) & included an 'AUSTIN' badge to go the whole hog!
 
(The original black grille and blue-cross bonnet badge just had too go)
 
Completely down to how it 'looks' & have absolutely no idea if the badge/grill combo are from the same car/era, but hey, that was never the intention.
 
Go for it, it's your car!1 HVX 062a.JPG

Surely a 1978 is a mk4 ? ...... :0) as I understood it they changed in 1976 ish

Cheers James

[b_sdaddy]

 

Fitted 'new' grille & over-riders to my Mk3 (1978) & included an 'AUSTIN' badge to go the whole hog!
 
(The original black grille and blue-cross bonnet badge just had too go)
 
Completely down to how it 'looks' & have absolutely no idea if the badge/grill combo are from the same car/era, but hey, that was never the intention.
 
Go for it, it's your car!1 HVX 062a.JPG

Surely a 1978 is a mk4 ? ...... :0) as I understood it they changed in 1976 ish

Cheers James

 

James, the information on the logbook is Mk3 & 1978. But having said that, Logbooks (V5) have been known to be incorrect..

 

The chassis No. corresponds to year of manufacture being 1978. As for being Mk3 or Mk4, I bow to the experts here.

 

It is a Dutch LHD which could alter things...?

 

and if anyone knows how to distinguish between a Mk 3 & 4, I'd welcome your input - don't want to keep calling it a Mk3 if all along it's something else.

 

cheers James for possibly opening a can o' worms!

[jpw1275]

Hi b, what rear lights are fitted ? Does it have reverse lights ? Mk3 would have double gutter rails fitted.I would of thought no matter in the world the year of manufacture would defy the mk.But saying that if it was only first registered in 1978 but manufactured earlier then that could be a possibility.

Sorry if I offended you as it wasn't my intention

[Richie83]

MiniSpares sale led me to get a selection of badges, so I can choose. Advice so far is good, and I've made sure I have a Morris badge to match the Morris grille 😄. Any more opinions welcome.

[b_sdaddy]

Hi b, what rear lights are fitted ? Does it have reverse lights ? Mk3 would have double gutter rails fitted.I would of thought no matter in the world the year of manufacture would defy the mk.But saying that if it was only first registered in 1978 but manufactured earlier then that could be a possibility.

Sorry if I offended you as it wasn't my intention

No offense taken.

 

As for reversing lights: come std. but no rear Fogs. What the **** are double gutter rails!?

[Dzmarc]

I think it's all a personal taste thing. However here are some of the things that make me cringe, and maybe other mini owners too when it comes to this.

 

Morris badge and a MK1 Austin grille, or vice versa.

Fitting Morris badges to Austins vice versa.

When things are badged as coopers when they aren't. it might look good, but thats like putting AMG on a non AMG merc, or Abarth on a standard fiat. 

 

This is of course my own opinions, it's your mini so you need to do what is best for your fulfillment!

 

Couldn't agree more