My husband bought me a Mini last X-mas and I've been trying to figure out which mini it is. It has a Vin number that doesn't quite jive with the info provided at the minimania website. The side decal says "Mayfair"- I think this is an add-on decal. It was brought over from Germany ~3 years ago (yes, I found German coins in the back seat - dated 2004).

Left hand drive. Tach in Kilos. Seems all the 'writing' on the instrument panels, etc. are in German. There was the standard mini winged decal on the front which recently fell off (stick on) and there are three bolt holes under it. Now I'm not quite sure which badge to replace it with.

How can I tell positively what year this is? It's registered as a 1972 Morris Mini- from what I've read, the Mayfairs were produced in the 80's? The Morris name was dropped in 1971. Any suggestions? It's a great little car- clean, no dents, 2 tiny rust spots but it runs great! Seems to be all original (older) parts- like it was kept in a garage during it's lifetime. Is there a way to tell it's true year?

 

Look at the wiper motor and the inside of the trunk lock for a date stamp...if it is a Mayfair then it's a later car...

 

There should also be a vin decoder on minimania.

 

Although if it was revinned so that it could be imported (my guess), the vin decoding will just cue it as a 72 (the registration of the donor car) rather than the actual build date. Do you know what year it was imported? ... just reread that it had 2004 coins in it. If it was brought over then, the car would have had to be registered as a 79 or earlier to be legally imported.

There are a number of different parts that will be stamped with the date when the parts were built, as Minimad mentioned. That will be your best bet.

 

For example, here's the boot latch on my 79



you see two sets of digits, 18 represents the week of the year, 79 the year. It is pretty uncommon to have replaced these parts. Similar code is on the wiper motor and the distributor (but replacement of the dizzy is a bit more common)

 

To find the "true" VIN for a Mini check in the bonnet water channel nearest the windscreen. On the (driver side LHD) or the (passenger side in RHD) the VIN will be punched in that channel. Most re-VINing only replace the plate and miss this stamp. Good luck

 

Thanks all. Nothing on the boot latch (must've been replaced) and I couldn't find the wiper motor...did manage to disengage the pump and inadvertantly cleaned my garage floor though! I've checked the minimania site recommendations and I'm having no luck. Seems like all the parts in the engine compartment are stamped "London", but no numbers anywhere. Wierd. It's definately an original LHD - no signs of conversion. Also, no headrests on the seats. Has the rear fog light too. This is becoming a mad quest. I'll try the bonnet water channel thing tonight. Thanks for all of your comments and help.

 

I just found this by accident a couple weeks ago when removing the rubber seal to clean in there! I hadn't read about that being there before, so it really surprised me.

 

The Plot Thickens.

I checked the channel last night. Someone bondo'ed (sp) over it, directly in the channel so I took a mirror to the underside after feeling stamped lettering (so I thought) and alas, someone painted over it- the only area on this section painted...hmmmm.

Back to square one.

 

Wow, definitely sounding like they went to a lot of work to make sure no one (read "customs") knew what the build date was.

I guess if you can still feel the stamped lettering on the underside, you could possibly do a pencil rubbing of it? I'm getting curious myself now.

 

Okay, tried the pencil rubbing. Got a couple lines but nothing more. I'll keep you posted. The bondo (if it even was bondo) was kind of a sloppy job, I may be able to scrape it off. I'll keep you posted.