Hello - first post on NAM in this incarnation, was previously rswan of Dreyer & Reinbold MINI - still an MA, but new account as private citizen. Two weeks ago I picked up a Classic 'something' off of Ebay. I usually would never buy a car sight unseen, but at the price it went for I knew even if it was in bushel baskets it was a good deal. It is titled as a '1962' Mini, but the body and interior look to be late seventies early eighties? ( roll up windows, internal hinges, eighties gauge cluster) The front end is fiberglass and comes completely off, which is very nice for getting at the 1275cc w/ dual SUs. I can't find any listing in any of the books I've collected for the Leyland Mini Special, which is what the boot badge says it is.

The good news is, it runs like a scalded dog - very fast, or at least it seems fast! The tranny is going to need replacing - it won't stay in first and fourth is noisy and I just put in a new starter, but it will be a labor of love - reminds me of the Bug-Eye Sprite I grew up with. If I could figure out how to insert an image I'd show the Elvis Blue Velvet interior - way cool! Any one have a definite date range for a Leyland Mini Special? Is there a listing of 1275cc block numbers to tell exactly what it is?

 

try this: http://www.minispecial.com/thems/index.htm
{Google'd "mini special"}

from the info here all specials were built between approximately 1975 - 1981; which matches your description; they came from multiple factories... Therefore you'd have a Mk3 or 4 .... certainly not a 60's car. Sounds like a little re-VIN went on at some time This page also seems to say that all specials had 1098's so I guess you're re-engined too

or - someone liked the badge and stuck one on cuz they are readily available!

happy researching~

I have a similar set-up: frg front end and 1275 altho I run a single SU HIF-6; it started life as a simple Mini 1000.

 

To post pictures: Set up free account at www.photobucket.com . Then upload photo from your computer to Photobucket. Then right click on the img box and copy. Then paste to post an wala image shows up.

 

Thank you for the information - the mini special site is great. Still can't find the true VIN that should be under the seats. So far I have found three colors underneath - red, orange, yellow.


Looking for Cosmic wheel center caps ...



On the switch panel, between wiper and light switch there is a spring loaded button - can anyone tell me what it is??


had to show off the 'Blue Velvet' interior:


CasaMini - that is a great looking project! I wish the body panels on this were that tight...

 

Dunno about that button

my 79 Saloon has 4 rockers there - lights, rear defrost, brake circuit test and one that's not connected to anything anymore, and has no label! Only the light switch is currently employed - brake test went bye bye when the disks were put on. Defrost probably could/should work but the car never leaves the garage undert hos conditions anyway.

I can't recall ever seeing a setup like that in a parts catalog for a replacement panel tho...

 

I could be wrong on half of this because I don't have my references in front of me, but here goes...

Check out some of the "Australian Mini" web sites.
They stopped producing in 1978, but they produced some "specials".

The name Leyland, not British Leyland was for Australian cars.

Your heater, insturment cluster and some of the dash controls, wheels, are the same as my 1978 Leyland Mini LS.

My VIN is on a number plate on the right fender and stamped into the radiator to fender sheet metal shroud.

I found a web site about "YD0" cars meaning Australian production. My vin starts with 0 not YD0 but other wise matches the web site listings.

I think the Australian specials were all Clubman, so some one may have changed your front end when they went to the fiberglass.

They had a 1275 engine available up until 1978 when they went to the 998 to meet the local polution regs. That is about when they stopped producing the engines in Australia and started importing the BL engines again.

John

 

Ok - most of this is from Memory.....

The 1100 special was anything but really, the 1100 motor was a long-stroke, low revving lazy lump of a motor, sure it had a lot of torque than the 1000 motor, but really it was dire.

The 1100 special was a clubman fronted mini, and my suspicions are that you actually have a 'special' because the clubmans had the 2-guage instrumentation rather than the single central speedo.

You do NOT have a 1275GT, because that added a third clock, the rev counter.

Now the funny button in the middle of the switch gear ?

Its a washer pump

Yes really, it pumps water onto the screen

Again this puts the production date back to mid 70's - because in 76/77 mini's lost that 'feature' and gained a wiper/washer stalk on the steering column.

Interesting that you have twin carbs on a 1275, I wonder which 1275 motor that actually is ?

Anyway - I would say 1975-1977 1100 Special, with a round front FG conversion, and possibly a fun motor - now you need to identify if that engine is an A+ (Metro) 1275GT or Cooper S engine before you start playing with it......

 

According to info I read on Minimania, there are several places where dates are stamped on parts in the car that might not have been swapped out. Check the wiper motor (MMYY, i.e.'12 68' for Dec. 1968) or the boot latch (WWYY, i.e. 48 68 for week 48 in 1968) . For more, much more, really good info see this link: http://www.minimania.com/articlev.cfm?DisplayID=1796

 

I'll verify both those...

I found a date stamp on both parts (and they matched my alleged build year!)

and it's funny - after saying I'd never seen the button 'tween two rockers panel, it seemed like every picture posted was of that configuration....

 

Thanks for the great information! The engine is not an A+, since it has the extended alternator bracket. http://www.minimania.com/ArticleV.cfm?DisplayID=1801#1. It requires lead subtitute, so when it goes in for the engine overhaul and tranny replacement it will get the unleaded makeover as well. The oil pressure drops from 50 psi to 10 psi after about 15 minutes of driving - which everyone tells me is indicative of a worn main bearing . Now to sell my '87 Jag Vanden Plas w/ a Chevy 350 and Z28 Trans to pay for the Mini project....... it won't be a total restoration - gotta keep it funky now!