29 replies to this topic

[biff]

Whats this bracket on the underside of my parcel shelf?  Its a 71 mark 3 (but may have been reshelled but shell seems to still be a pre-mark 4).  Assume its for rear seat belts but thought they were always fitted to the C-post, not the parcel shelf?  Im trying to figure out if this is a Mark 3 or later feature.

 

TIA

Attached Files

•  underside of parcel shelf.jpg   54.44K   3 downloads
•  IMG_4958.jpg   45.32K   2 downloads
•  IMG_4962.jpg   58.96K   2 downloads
•  IMG_4963.jpg   32.17K   4 downloads

Edited by biff, 04 May 2020 - 07:49 PM.

[imack]

Nothing like that on my 72

[mab01uk]

interesting......is it a UK built Mini? Do you have the other lower seat belt mountings at the base of the rear bulkhead like a Mk4, as shown in photos in link below?

Also visible from inside the boot.

http://www.theminifo...ounting-points/

 

Can you also take a photo from above as the pressed ribs in the parcel shelf look shorter to give a flat surface for the bracket.

Edited by mab01uk, 04 May 2020 - 06:04 PM.

[biff]

yes as far as I know its a UK built car.  Yes I have the lower brackets - but nothing on the C-pillar .  Im not sure how the ribs should look but to me they look to be a consistent length, the bracket is fitted round them.  Im not getting an option to add photos to this reply so I'll put them in my original post. 

[Tupers]

Neither my ‘70 or ‘71 has that bracket but as you say your car has been reshelled.

Does the current shell have two bolts holding each side of the front subframe tower in or one big bolt on each side?

I can’t say I’ve ever seen that bracket but it’s not often you look at the underside of the parcel shelf.

[imack]

No roto dip hole, looks like a later shell.

[biff]

Its got a two bolt subframe and a round transmission tunnel so I assume the re-shell is into another mark three shell.  Can you fit a two bolt subframe into a later shell?

 

But still wondering what era those seatbelt brackets come from because I don't think mini's have ever had brackets on the parcel shelf, always the C pillar?  I'd like to fit rear seatbelts and wondering about whether to use this bracket, what belts go on it etc.  

[imack]

I've never seen a round tunnel remote shift mk3 without the large rotodip hole in the rear bulkhead. I thought they went solid bulkhead on the square tunnel rod shift cars.
Mines a 72 mk3, it appears to have all the holes in the rear bulkhead and parcel shelf for the seatbelt bolts but no seatbelt brackets fitted. I wonder if it was possibly a factory option. Is that original paint in the boot?
Are the boot board brackets original or is it an S shell?

Attached Files

•  20180401_184037.jpg   42.39K   4 downloads

Edited by imack, 05 May 2020 - 08:07 PM.

[sonikk4]

I would say thats a MK4 shell at the very minimum. The seat belt brackets in the centre and in each corner can be bought individually but they look factory to me.

[biff]

Can you fit a two bolt subframe to a Mark 4 (or later) front end?  Yes the seatbelt brackets look to me to be factory fitted.  Paint in the boot is not original so its hard to tell what has been added.  I wonder if the rear bulkhead has been replaced at some point hence no rotodip hole.  Was also wondering if I could date the shell by the seatbelt brackets in the parcel shelf (which look factory fitted) but from my research I can't find any era when the under parcel brackets like mine were used (top fixing always on the C-post) so Im confused ... 

[imack]

I have seen people modifying the front bulkhead crossmember with added crush tubes to allow fitment of a twin bolt subframe.
So definitely a round tunnel with the bulge in the floor for the mk1 starter button?
Ashtrays in rear pockets?
I was reading a post on the mk1 forum this morning that stated rear seat belts were required in Australia in 1972, so could it be an import?

[1968andyf]

Just checked my 1275gt registered 1/1/71 so built in 70 twin bolt subframe remote tunnel with starter bulge original floor it has the same parcel shelf brackets and seat back to boot floor bracket

[biff]

imack:  yes I have a round tunnel/remote shift.  Looks like the starter bulge has been lost to rust - its been bashed flat and patched.  Possible that its been switched from a rod tunnel but i can't see any joins.  Ashtrays in the pockets have gone but there has been a lot of rust work in that area.

 

1968andyf:  mine is a 1275 Cooper S registered in March 71 so close to yours.  I know the majority of the  mark 3 cooper S went abroad so may be they fitted these rear belt brackets to some UK cars with overseas markets in mind. 

 

Does your '71 1275GT  have a rear rotodip hole? 

[1968andyf]

No roto dip hole my sons 74 mk 3 clubman doesn't have the hole nor did my old 74 clubman

[imack]

I think the rotodip hole disappeared along with the companion bin ashtrays when the rod change square tunnel models came about.