I have a 1984 Mini but cannot locate its VIN plate. Have located the VIN stamped in the gutter at back edge of bonnet. The previous owner installed a flip up fiberglass front end. Does anyone know if there was a VIN plate and location on a 1984?

 

Every classic I've seen (legal US cars pre 1990), if everything was original, the VIN plate is on the cross member that forms the top of the grill / striker plate area for the bonnet.



For your year it probably looked something like this



You can buy the blanks - MiniMania has them in various flavors for different times ... Morris, etc . . .


Because they were in an easy to access place and simply riveted on - re-vin is very easy ....


It is my understanding that an original plate is always stamped from the back, making the number raised on the face ... I've seen a place that will do this stamping ONLY with proof that they are replacing an original.


I too have a glass front clip and my VIN plate was relocated to the suspension tower of the front subframe starboard side.


I do not know if the VIN details changed with the Rover cars . . .