Hi,

I recentely purchased a 1968 Austin Mini MkII. I plan to restore the car, and yesterday I started to dismantle the car. I have the shell pretty much taken apart. I have several questions, and would be grateful for some info...

1. My Mini has a windshiled wiper on the rear window. I am pretty sure that is not original. Correct?

2. The rear window has the defogger heater. Was this an original option, or was this added on?

3. The rear quarter windows open. Was this an original item?

4. I have found the commission number plate. Is there a place on the web or does someone know how to corroborate that indeed this is a 68 Mini?

5. This car has two fuel tanks in the boot? Was this a common item on MKII's?

5. Last question: what is the history of MKII Minis in the USA? Were these cars sold at dealelrships or was this a 'gray market' car?

Sorry for so many questions. I have been doing my research, I just wanted to ask some specific questions.

thanks,
joe

 

The information used to compile the following was taken from factory service parts lists and factory microfiche. Under close scrutiny, there appears to be some conflicts and mistakes in the factory number schemes, but, for the most part, the listings are accurate enough for car identification.

Please note that the Chassis (VIN) number and the Commission number are only one indication of the actual model and date of the car. The Chassis number plate is easily duplicated, especially on early cars, and it is not unusual for later cars not meeting US DOT and EPA standards to have earlier Chassis number plates attached to them to get them into the US illegally. Also, Chassis number plates have been known to be “faked” to turn a less valuable car into a more valuable one; e.g., a standard Saloon into a Cooper or Cooper S.








October 1969 to 1974 “Model Year” – English Built


During the previous months leading up to the cars in this time period, a Commission Number was introduced to go along with the Chassis Number/VIN. Both are helpful in identifying a car.

CHASSIS NUMBER/VIN

The general format for the Chassis Number/VIN for these cars is:

X-A2S1N-XXX-A

VIN, First Position (“X” in the above example):

This is simply dismissed by the factory as “non significant”!

VIN, Second Position (“A” in the above example):

= Engine type

848cc
998
1275cc Cooper S and 1275 GT

VIN, Third Position (“2S” in the above example):

= Body type

2S = 2-door saloon/sedan. (Except Mk III Copper S and 1275GT) Caution: bureaucratic bungles often interpret this as 25 (twenty-five)
2W = Estate (“2 Door Dual Purpose”)
D = 2 door saloon (Mk III Cooper S and 1275GT only)
U = Pick-up. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.
V = Panel van. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.

VIN, Fourth Position (“1N” in the above example):

[Blank] = Mini 850. Produced only in the “round nose” style
1 = Round nose, traditional Mini body style. Includes: Mini 1000, Mk III Cooper S, Van, and Pick-up.
2 = Clubman, square nose style. Includes: Clubman saloon, Clubman Estate, and 1275GT.

VIN, Fifth Position (“N” in the above example):

N = Mini 1000

VIN, Number positions (“###” in the above example):

= The sequential build number:

Unlike the earlier cars, each “type” started with number 101; e.g., the first Mini 850 in this range started with 101 as did the first Mini 1000, the first Mk III Cooper S, etc.

VIN, Last position (“A” in the above example):

= Assembly plant. Officially, “Internal Use Only”

If used at all, this would be “A” for English built cars. All English built Minis were now being built at Longbridge.

A = Longbridge

Commission Number

The general format for the Commission Number is:

N20S-XXX

Commission Number, First Positions (“N20S” in the above example):

= Car type

20U = Pick-up
20V = Van
20W = Clubman Estate
D20S = Mini 850
N20D = Mk III Cooper S
N20S = Mini 1000
S20D = 1275GT
S20S = Clubman

Commission Number positions (“###” in the above example):

Sequential number starting at 101 for each car type.






1974 “Model Year” To 1980 “Model Year” – English Built



VIN

The general format for the VIN for these cars is:

X-K2S1N-XXX-A

VIN, First Position (“X” in the above example):

This is simply dismissed by the factory as “non significant”!

VIN, Second Position (“K” in the above example):

= Engine type

A = [Unknown if this was used. If so, it indicated any of the A series engines still in production at that time]
C = 1098cc
E = 1275cc
K = 848cc
L = 998cc

VIN, Third Position (“2S” in the above example):

= Body type

2D: The factory microfiche does not list a designator for the 1275GT. This would imply there wasn’t one; however, it is likely the 2D designator was still used. The microfiche shows 2D used for the 1980 model year. If no designator is listed, the Commission number must be used to identify the 1275GT.
2S = 2-door saloon/sedan. (Except 1275GT) Caution: bureaucratic bungles often interpret this as 25 (twenty-five)
2W = Estate (“2 Door Dual Purpose”)
U = Pick-up. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.
V = Panel van. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.

VIN, Fourth Position (“1” in the above example):

1 = Round nose, traditional Mini body style. Includes: Mini 850, Mini 850 City, Mini 850 Special Deluxe, Mini 1000, Van (848cc and 998cc), Mini Special 1098cc, and Pick-up (850cc and 998cc).
2 = Clubman, square nose style. Includes: Clubman Saloon (998cc Automatic and 1098cc Manual), Clubman Estate (998cc Automatic and 1098cc Manual), and 1275GT.

VIN, Fifth Position (“N” in the above example):

N = Special Deluxe (Except for North America). Includes the Mini 850 Special Deluxe, the Mini 1000, and the Mini Special 1098cc.
North America:
A = 1970
B = 1971
C = 1972
D = 1973
E = 1974
F = 1975
G = 1976
H = 1977
J = 1978
L = 1979

VIN, Number positions (“###” in the above example):

= The sequential build number:

Each “type” of car (with one exception) started with number 101; e.g., the first Mini 850 in this range started with 101 as did the first Mini 1000, the first 1275GT, etc.

The factory records list one exception: the export Mini Special 1098cc. The starting number, for some reason, is listed as 1012011

VIN, Last position (“A” in the above example):

= Assembly plant. Officially, “Internal Use Only”

If used at all, this would be “A” for English built cars.

A = Longbridge

COMMISSION NUMBER

The general format for the Commission Number is:

N20S-XXX

Commission Number, First Positions (“N20S” in the above example):

= Car type

20U = Pick-up
20V = Van
20W = Clubman Estate
B20S = Mini City
D20S = Mini 850
J20S = Mini 1100 Special (UK only)
N20S = Mini 1000
S20D = 1275GT
S20S = Clubman
T20S = Mini 850 Super

Commission Number positions (“###” in the above example):

Starting numbers are as follows:
20U = 13205L
20V = 84679L
20W = 77031A
B20S = 101
D20S = 83622L
J20S = 101
N20S = 20531L and 230547A
S20D = 19416A
S20S = 104632A
T20S = 101

[FONT='Times New Roman']Note that there is no listed explanation for the “A” and “L” endings. If these are intended to be the same as used for VIN numbers, the “A” would be Longbridge. Literature has suggested that “L” = Morocco! This has not been confirmed from factory microfiche.[/FONT]

 

Can you post a photo? First thing is to determine the actual year of your car. There are many late model Minis in the US posing as earlier cars to get by fed regs. Look at this:
http://www.minimania.com/matrix/

 

Thank you for the help. Here is what my Mini looks like:

 

Can you also post whatever numbers you can find on your Mini? We'll be able to help you decode

 

From your pictures, it looks to definately be a MK2. It seems to have some nice period mods like the spotlights in the grill, cool wheels, twin tanks, and wing mirrors. The badge on the front is the correct Austin badge. Rear windows are supposed to open outwards and should not have the "piano" hinges-the one on the driver's side is correct- can't see the passenger one. Does the rear window defroster work, or is there a switch? It looks to be a factory window that came in the Mk4 cars and later (even though they are the same size).

If original, it should have the hydrolastic suspension, drum brakes on all 4 corners, have a gernerator dynamo, and be positive ground. The 2nd tank was an add on, and might be aftermarket. Though for a time genuine ones were much easier to source than now. The bumpers should have over riders on the front and rear as well.

The wipers park as though for a Right hand drive car. Perhaps this car was changed to Left hand drive at a later date?

You can find out the import/export history of the car by obtaining a "Heritage Certificate" to see if it is indeed a U.S. export.

Looks to be a nice car. MiniMad's reference for decifering the VIN # is very good as well.

good luck with it.

dr dave

 

Unless they did it backwards, the wipers appear to be parked for a left hand drive car. The wipers on all my sold in the U.S. cars are parked pointed toward the right just like this car.

 

I understand MkI & II all had the same scuttle panel. Not the latter scuttle with dual holes for LHD or RHD.

 

I'm really an amateur to Minis. But I'm looking to purchase this one. It's a 1966 Mini.

Can someone help me decode this VIN:

2S137156N

 

1. My Mini has a windshiled wiper on the rear window. I am pretty sure that is not original. Correct?
Yes it was an after market add on now quite rare as a period 1960s/70s accessory.

2. The rear window has the defogger heater. Was this an original option, or was this added on?
Fitted to Mk3 cars but may have been on a few late Mk2.

3. The rear quarter windows open. Was this an original item?
Yes, except on basic 850s.

4. I have found the commission number plate. Is there a place on the web or does someone know how to corroborate that indeed this is a 68 Mini?

5. This car has two fuel tanks in the boot? Was this a common item on MKII's?
Only on the Cooper S.

5. Last question: what is the history of MKII Minis in the USA? Were these cars sold at dealelrships or was this a 'gray market' car?

 

Interesting thread...

Just noticed that the OP, jgrant, posted this a year ago. Any updates on this car? I would love to see more photos and hear a progress report.