13 replies to this topic

[ruari]

I'm just nearing completion (completion meaning enough bits are firmly enough attached that it might just pass an MOT) on my project to bring a mk3 mini back to life, which I had believed to be a Morris. However, on searching for insurance it's become apparent that if it's a morris it shouldn't be as late as it is. The car was registered 25th January 1973 and is recorded as a Morris Mini 1000 on the V5. I have a dating confirmation letter from Heritage garage which shows it was built 28th January 1972 at Longbridge, but their records show it was made by Austin. Can anyone tell me what's going on here, because I don't want to insure it as an Austin as I think this could cause problems if I ever have to claim, yet at the same time all the insurers tell me it can't be a Morris!

[taffy1967]

Well with the introduction of the MKIII Mini in late 1969, the Austin and Morris badges were dropped and the Mini became a registered name in it's own right and therefore no longer known as either an Austin or a Morris Mini.

However the V5 had to have a make and where as Mini or British Leyland (or BL) would have probably sufficed, many British Leyland dealers still insisted on using either the Austin or Morris name.

My first Mini was a 1975 MKIII Mini 1000 and that was listed as a Morris on it's V5, but I never considered it to be a Morris or an Austin because all the badges stated Mini (except for the British Leyland A'panel motifs).

Anyway getting back to you're problem, then I'd just insist that it is a Morris, because that's what's written on the V5 document and my 1975 MKIII was a Morris too!

So whatever that Heritage garage confirmation letter says isn't to be totally believed anyway. Only the Heritage Centre @ Gaydon keeps records of BMC/BL cars, but I don't believe they keep comprehensive records for anything made after 1969?

Edited by taffy1967, 27 February 2007 - 12:31 AM.

[Guess-Works.com]

But worth a try, if you have any evidence that it was BUILT prior to 1st January 1973 then it's classed as a Historic Vehicle and due for Tax exemption... the 35 quid you spend on the heritage certificate will save you your Road tax every year.

Edited by GuessWorks, 27 February 2007 - 08:25 AM.

[Bungle]

my 1979 GT said it was a austin morris on the V5

[blacktulip]

But worth a try, if you have any evidence that it was BUILT prior to 1st January 1973 then it's classed as a Historic Vehicle and due for Tax exemption... the 35 quid you spend on the heritage certificate will save you your Road tax every year.

sorry to hijack ruari, how do u go about checking the date of first manufacture? i have a 1973 mini too and i would love it to be exempt plus those black/silve plates can go back on.

[taffy1967]

Contact the Heritage Motor Centre, like I said I don't think they supply full details or Heritage Certificates for post 1969 cars, but they should have records and dates of when every Mini was manufactured and that will be proof enough for the DVLA:-

The Heritage Motor Centre Link

But worth a try, if you have any evidence that it was BUILT prior to 1st January 1973 then it's classed as a Historic Vehicle and due for Tax exemption... the 35 quid you spend on the heritage certificate will save you your Road tax every year.

Oh yes it's definitely worth it, but I can't see what the fuss is over the Austin/Morris makes because the Mini wasn't badged as either after 1969.

Edited by taffy1967, 27 February 2007 - 01:26 PM.

[blacktulip]

Contact the Heritage Motor Centre, like I said I don't think they supply full details or Heritage Certificates for post 1969 cars, but they should have records and dates of when every Mini was manufactured and that will be proof enough for the DVLA:-

The Heritage Motor Centre Link

But worth a try, if you have any evidence that it was BUILT prior to 1st January 1973 then it's classed as a Historic Vehicle and due for Tax exemption... the 35 quid you spend on the heritage certificate will save you your Road tax every year.

Oh yes it's definitely worth it, but I can't see what the fuss is over the Austin/Morris makes because the Mini wasn't badged as either after 1969.

what is the likelyhood of my car being build before jan if my log book says first reg on 09/10/1973?

[taffy1967]

Slim, but you never know perhaps it was an ex-demo model that hung around for a while before being registered?

[ruari]

Nice one, thanks all.. guess it doesn't really matter which I insure it as, but I'll try insisting it's a Morris where I can
By the way, if you want to get your car checked out for historic status, email the heritage motor centre (http://www.heritage-...r-centre.co.uk/) and they'll check it out for you, if it turns out that it was built prior to Jan 1st 1973 they'll charge £15 for a confirmation of build date letter that you can send to the DVLA as proof of age.

[Timtom]

at the beginning mini's were either Austin or Morris right?.. But why has Autotrader got no BMC as a make?!

[taffy1967]

Probably because the name BMC changed like many others that followed such as British Leyland etc. So original Mini tends to show up under Rover which was it's last owner.

Edited by taffy1967, 27 February 2007 - 05:13 PM.

[Garagiste]

That would make life easier for those in the know, but BMC was never a marque as such.

[THE ANORAK]

some of the things written on your V5 document are their because the person who registered it didn't know what he was doing.

how many people own a Mini Sky Rose ??? or a Racing Flame ???

apparently lots of people but the Sky, Rose, Racing and Flame are 4 different cars, so it's actually nor possible to own a combination of two of them.

basically, use your common sense, my 1989 "rover" mini city had austin on the V5, what idiot registered that then ???

[Nic]

i think a good way to tell if your car was built before jan 73 would be that it has remote change insted of rod change which was phased in also jan 73.