11 replies to this topic

[oh.go.on.then]

First time posting so hopefully in the correct section!?

 

I'm interested what peoples logbooks say in "make" and "type". I have a mkII Austin Cooper with heritage certificate but all my V5 states is "Austin" in make and that's it - not Mini or Cooper - nothing else at all.

 

I thought I would check what my old mkII Morris Cooper says and that states Rover Mini! Weird.

 

Do other peoples state mini? and particularly those with a mkI or II Cooper state Cooper. If so, is it in Make or Type?

 

I'm considering contacting DVLA to update with evidence of the vehicle type.

 

Cheers 

[mab01uk]

Descriptions vary especially before computerisation of the DVLA vehicle records in the 1970's because it relied on what the Dealer selling the car wrote or typed on the vehicle registration forms and was not helped by the many confusing changes of the Minis manufacturing company and so called 'Badge Engineering' as Austin or Morris (eg. BMC, British Leyland, BL Cars, Austin, Morris, Austin-Morris, Rover, BMW Group, etc) and even when 'Mini' became a standalone brand with the launch of the Mk3 Mini under British Leyland in 1969, most Minis were still registered by local Dealers brand loyalty as an Austin or Morris. Cooper, Clubman and later the Special Editions are also very hit or miss at being recorded on log books/V5 but chassis number and engine number should confirm details with some research.

 

I don't think you will find the DVLA willing to change or update your Mini's vehicle type.....

Edited by mab01uk, 27 August 2020 - 10:01 PM.

[blacktulip]

My 69 cooper says cooper on the v5

[oh.go.on.then]

Thanks for the comments both. It might be a long shot but I think I'll see what DVLA say. They may say no to adding something in but I won't know until I ask.

[some1158]

For a mark II, the correct make would be Austin or Morris, with Mini as the model name. Mini only became a standalone brand in 1969 - and even then, as noted above, the cars were still registered by dealers as Austin, or Morris (or Leyland). From c. 1980 the only make used was Austin. From c. 1990-2000 they were registered as Rover for the make (and Mini for the model). My 1989 is thus Austin with the model being 'Mini Racing Flame'; Racing and Flame were different limited run models but were registered in the same way to save paperwork.

 

MINI as a brand in the way we know it now, with its own showrooms etc, is the work of BMW and only starts in 2001. 

 

I'm a bit unsure why your Morris Cooper is registered as a Rover Mini...that seems odd. 

[mab01uk]

I believe only some later Mini's exported to Japan ever had a Rover badge visible on the bootlid?

[beardylondon]

This is years ago, but my mk1 only had the last 6 digits of the VIN on the V5, so I sent the heritage certificate and photo of the vin plate to DVLA and they duly updated it.

[oh.go.on.then]

I have had a look on MOT checker at other mkI or II Coopers when I see them advertised on ebay and most say Cooper. Lets see what DVLA say anyway. I can send them the Heritage certificate and photographs of chassis numbers etc to prove identity. They may send me on my way but lets find out.

[Cooperman]

My 1973 'Innocenti Mini-Cooper 1300 Export' was shown on the V5 as an 'Austin Mini Cooper S'.

[Compdoc]

Thanks for the comments both. It might be a long shot but I think I'll see what DVLA say. They may say no to adding something in but I won't know until I ask.

I'll be surprised if you even get a reply. It took me 4 months to get the engine number changed on my log book. They sent my V5 back twice with no changes or explanation and after further phone calls I received a letter instructing me to take my car to an "Austin Dealer" and get the dealer to write a letter stating the information that I had supplied, i.e. the new engine number, is correct. It cost me £25.00 to get a Rover specialist to type me a two line note on his headed paper to get my V5 updated. I know that thousands of people contact the DVLA  every day without a problem, but I obviously got the village idiot!

[Dag]

About 6 years ago i bought an 1986 mini 1000 logbook came back with make: Leyland AEC model: unknown 

[InnoCooperExport]

My 1973 'Innocenti Mini-Cooper 1300 Export' was shown on the V5 as an 'Austin Mini Cooper S'.

 

Interesting, my 1975 (though built in 74) Innocenti Cooper 1300 Export is registered by our Dutch DVLA equivalent as a "Mini Cooper 1300". Which is weird because it was imported from new as a Dutch market car. Somehow, none of the Innos that came here new where registered as such, and all the ones I know of are registered as Mini Cooper 1300s.