I just purchased a restored 1971 austin mini cooper S.
This is a new addition to our existing two 2008 MINI's.
I am looking at parts ans accessories, and am flooded with terms and models taht are at this time very confusing.
Where can I go for education as to what specific model numbers, ie. MKI, MKII or what ever pertain to my mini.
There are parts I would like to purchase, but am worried might not fit my newbee.
Thanks for your help.

 

You may want to post this in the "classic" forum.

 

Getting Started
So you are thinking of buying a Mini. You’ve just started your research and you are suddenly faced with a bewildering variety of Mini body styles, engine sizes, and Mk names (“What’s an Em Kay?”). After all, Minis were built for 42 years. There’s bound to be a few choices!
Another scenario. You’re thinking of buying a Mini, and you’ve done your research. Lots of reading. Books. Internet. Talked with many people. You’ve pretty much narrowed down the choices from the confusing hundreds you started with to half a dozen or so. You are getting serious and are beginning to contact people for photographs of cars, or you are getting set to look at some cars in person.
And another scenario. Somehow you have acquired a Mini. Great Uncle Hester left you one in his will, or you always wanted one and a friend of a friend knew someone who had a friend that had one in a barn and you couldn’t pass it up. Or you just got a wild hair, thought they were cute and bought the first one you saw. Or maybe you’re in Utah (or California, or…) and you just bought a Mini through eBay and it is in Little Piddleabout, North Yorkshire, England…and you have suddenly learned that U.S. Customs will have a say about whether you can import the car…and then you have to get it by the Utah authorities.
One last scenario. Simply put, you have a Mini and need to buy parts or want to “accessorize” a bit.
In all cases, a little help with identification should be useful. The rest of this article will help with that identification process. Use it as one source, but find and use many others. Seek out and talk with long time Mini owners. (A good place to start is to join a Mini club.) Also, search the Internet. There is a wealth of information (and misinformation!) on line. Find and read some of the many books on Minis that have been printed over the years.
It’s still not going to be easy. Identification is complicated enough for a car that was built for so many years, in so many countries, and in so many factory variations. But once they were sold who knows what modifications have been made.
All during this research keep in mind two things: (1) be just a little bit skeptical about any Mini fact that includes the words “never” or “always,” something in the form of, “The factory NEVER made the car with….” (You’ll find some examples in this article, I’m sure!) and (2) always keep in mind the Mini’s Mr. Potato Head factor!


Lots more information here!

You should also post your questions on our Forum

And perhaps even post from pictures on the www.MiniOwners.com Website