7 replies to this topic

[D71HFK]

Morning everyone, this is one for the anoraks out there, so I will apologise in advance.

 

In 1987, Austin Rover gave the Mini the mildest of facelifts. 

 

This included the change from glass to plastic indicators, the 'Austin' resin grille badge was changed to one that said 'Mini' and finally the shield badge on the bonnet was switched from one that said 'Mini' to a plainer variant with no wording at all, with 4 bright inserts rather than 2. 

 

Does anyone happen to know exactly when this was?  The best I can currently pinpoint this to is some time after March - August '87.

 

Marsh

[some1158]

My memory is that the badging change was during 1988 and took place in two phases:

1. The grille badge had the word MINI over the Austin Rover stripes (replacing the 1984-7 AUSTIN grille badge)

then, later:

2. The grille badge had the word MINI on a black background

 

This timeline seems to be supported by https://www.roblight.../brochures.html

The 1987 Park Lane brochure shows the Austin grille badge

The 1988 Designer brochure shows a grille badge with MINI over the stripes

The 1989 brochures (and my own 1989 Mini) have the black background on the grille badge

 

No doubt there was an overlap period as badges were used up however!

 

In parallel, the Metro, Maestro and Montego lost their Austin badges. My mum's August 1988 Maestro had MAESTRO on the grille with the Austin stripes in the background but 89 cars had the black background on the grille badge. Essentially Austin was seen as downmarket and old-fashioned; Roverisation (or de-Austin-isation) was about taking the company upmarket and moving away from volume production to more niche/prestige positioning

Edited by some1158, 07 June 2021 - 11:30 AM.

[D71HFK]

Thanks for your reply - I believe the timeline was tighter than that. My Mini was registered in early March (but had been in the dealership a few weeks)and had the glass indicators, Austin grille badge and Mini bonnet shield, but my mom's car registered in early August '87 had plastic indicators, Mini grille badge and plain bonnet shield, but appeared otherwise identical.

[sonscar]

You may find there is no clear demarcation Eg up to ---- always X;after ---- always Y;those in the middle could be any combination.Have had a few non Mini cars like this.Steve..

[mab01uk]

Rarely a clear demarcation on cosmetic things like this as the production line usually just used up the old parts until stocks were exhausted rather than scrap them at extra costs, the parts did not all run out at the same time on the same day.....despite what some brochures/parts lists indicate, same happened right back to the BMC/BL days when Mk2 Minis left the factory with Mk3 bootlids and in Mk3 colours for instance.....confusing the later historians/enthusiasts/anoraks.

Edited by mab01uk, 07 June 2021 - 03:15 PM.

[imack]

I seem to remember glass indicators went in the late 70's and were replaced by similar style plastic ones with the lens held in with the chrome trim.
I thought the larger indicator lenses retained with screws came in with 12" wheels in 84, but I could be wrong.

Edited by imack, 07 June 2021 - 04:00 PM.

[Bobbins]

Our '86 has the larger indicators and wing repeaters, I suspect the changes were made together.

Edited by Bobbins, 15 June 2021 - 03:39 PM.

[Homersimpson]

Rarely a clear demarcation on cosmetic things like this as the production line usually just used up the old parts until stocks were exhausted rather than scrap them at extra costs, the parts did not all run out at the same time on the same day.....despite what some brochures/parts lists indicate, same happened right back to the BMC/BL days when Mk2 Minis left the factory with Mk3 bootlids and in Mk3 colours for instance.....confusing the later historians/enthusiasts/anoraks.

Knowing Austin Rover it wouldn't surprise me if there is one car with a plastic indicator on one side and a glass one on the other!