21 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

 

 

Chrome has a deeper shine than SS but as said not for long...

 

You can polish chrome up to quite a deep shine, just by using soapy water and silvo metal polish (the liquid type), old school but works.

 

The bumpers and headlamp trims are genuine chrome and the grill surround is genuine stainless, and in no way was any of the bright work new before polishing.

 

 

 

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the grille surrounds aluminium? It has been a while since I went over to the Mk1 set-up.

 

 

You've got me wondering now, as I know the bonnet lip on mine is defiantly stainless, but you might be right on the grill ends/hockey sticks.

[Mini 360]

Stainless every single time.  It can rust (stainless is not 100% rust resistant folks!) but won't rust even half as quickly as chrome will, especially with the poor quality of chrome plating in classic car parts these days.

[Steve220]

Minispares do a chrome on copper headlight ring. May get them!

[mab01uk]

 

 

 

Chrome has a deeper shine than SS but as said not for long...

 

You can polish chrome up to quite a deep shine, just by using soapy water and silvo metal polish (the liquid type), old school but works.

 

The bumpers and headlamp trims are genuine chrome and the grill surround is genuine stainless, and in no way was any of the bright work new before polishing.

 

 

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the grille surrounds aluminium? It has been a while since I went over to the Mk1 set-up.

 

 

You've got me wondering now, as I know the bonnet lip on mine is defiantly stainless, but you might be right on the grill ends/hockey sticks.

 

 

Mk2/3 onwards grille ends are polished anodised aluminium.....Mk1 grille surrounds were mostly chrome plated but a few genuine 1960's BMC surrounds do still turn up in stainless also.

[CityEPete]

Minispares do a chrome on copper headlight ring. May get them!

Proper chrome on copper is the only way of getting the real stuff really, I presume thats the only type that can be re chromed too as they strip it back to the copper, wierd stuff too, one mark before the coating and it shows through the whole thing!

[Zach P-D]

Stainless Steel for me

[inim_repooc]

It depends on what it's going onto.. Our 1953 bsa a10 golden flash bike - chrome every time - polished after every use and kept in a warm, dry garage otherwise (bike only used on nice days in summer) - likewise for our '63 bsa C15 ss80 - but on my mini which is used daily and unfortunately has to deal with crappy weather and damp etc.. Then I use stainless on everything I replace (where it makes sense) exhaust, bumpers grille surrounds etc... But my dads MGB that we are restoring is having mainly chrome (re chromed with a traditional firm on original parts) as it will be a weekend /summer car in the warm dry garage otherwise. - imo, stainless done well looks about as good as the not do good (Italian *cough*) chrome - but it is far, far more resistant to rusting and if it is going on a car used in the crappy weather or you want longevity out of your parts rather than maximum shine and stuff, then I would go stainless - there is no right or wrong answer - just people's preference, but I do think that a mini with well kept stainless can look just as good as the chrome ones... Though, I wouldn't say the same about British bikes, but then again we only use them in the summer!