9 replies to this topic

[16vmini]

bought a mk1 mini at weekend , 64 , mk1 rear lights , external hinges , v5 all ok , owner has had car for 40 years ..

 

only thing that stands out to me , is that the roof gutter does not that that drip rail on it , ok owner never remembers it have them , could have been removed in its first 10 odd years of owner ship...

 

did ALL mk1's have them ? or did they come and go / be an option ? 

 

cheers for any advice

 

Matt

[nicklouse]

they all had them.

 

but there is nothing to say that some one removed them at some time ( it made them look more modern) or it may have had a reshell before the current owner).

[johnv]

they could well have got rusty and been taken off. As long as the back window is the right size you should be ok!

[16vmini]

ok .. yea , had heard people used to fit mk2 lights to make mk1 look newer ... in those days , they where just a shitty mk1 :)

[nicklouse]

ok .. yea , had heard people used to fit mk2 lights to make mk1 look newer ... in those days , they where just a shitty mk1 :)

and later rear lights to Mk2s as we wanted the reversing lights.

[STG95F]

Very early MK1 never had the extra drip extension , but that was only on the very early cars ( none recess screens ) 

 

Could it be a earlier than a 64 shell ?  

[FlyingScot]

ok .. yea , had heard people used to fit mk2 lights to make mk1 look newer ... in those days , they where just a shitty mk1 :)

and later rear lights to Mk2s as we wanted the reversing lights.

And extensions to the gearbox to have a better gear change

[mab01uk]

The drip rails were added to roof gutters in May 1960.

http://1959miniregis...riations-shell/

 

Sometimes in the 1970's we also used to remove them before a respray due to rust and having one less rust trap!

[16vmini]

ok , cool , as it has had a respray in 70's

[tiger99]

At first they had to be fitted by the dealer, apparently by riveting. Bad idea of course! You may possibly find some rivet holes that have been subsequently filled. That would be interesting.

With modern methods of rust proofing, fitting them need not be so problematic as it once was. Not sure if they are all that useful, but certainly can make the car look as it should for its age. Personally I would fit them, but only if they should have been there originally. I would not rivet them!