Introducing Charlie

My car has an Austin badge on the left side of the boot lid. My friend said someone must've put it on at a later date. Any thoughts? Also, Are the bumpers the same as the Hornet/Elf? Mine are a bit bent and dinged. Maybe they can be straightened in SA or I may look into finding a replacement from the UK.

Yes, the Austin badge would've been added at a later date. The cars originally came out with the wavy Mini writing, in the style of the Austin badge. The bumpers are exactly the same as the Elf/Hornet back and front. It might be economical to get both of them rechromed and in the process have them straightened out.

Good to know. Thanks. And I'm missing one wheel cover...

SAMK3 wrote:My car has an Austin badge on the left side of the boot lid. My friend said someone must've put it on at a later date. Any thoughts? Also, Are the bumpers the same as the Hornet/Elf? Mine are a bit bent and dinged. Maybe they can be straightened in SA or I may look into finding a replacement from the UK.

Yes the bumpers are the same as the Elf and Hornet.
You will find that the rear bumpers in the Uk are like Hens Teeth (or rocking horse poo!) you would be wise to spend out on repairs to yours if possible. Similarly the same situation with the overriders unfortunately.
Good luck in your search either way.

You should be able to find a wheel cover at a place that specializes in classic Minis here in South Africa. I am also missing one of them. Also, your taillights look to be in pretty good nick. My lenses have all experienced the hot SA sun and have become very brittle and faded, so you are lucky to get them in that condition here.

The previous owner replaced them recently. I haven't even seen the car with my own eyes yet. This will be a remote control project until my next visit to Cape Town.

I'm going to have to replace my lenses sometime soon with new items, at least then I know that they will be looked after. I could always look out for a single wheel trim for you if need be?

That'd be great. Thanks.

Not a problem. If I find one, then you could collect it next time you're out here in SA or I can send to the guy doing your car?

Thanks again. Car goes in to the shop tomorrow to begin the restoration. Pretty excited.

I know some people where I could look for some overriders and wheel trims. If I find any I will let you know. Post some pictures of the car as it goes along in the projects section.

Thanks for offering all the help. I will definitely post photos.

Any help that I can offer, would be a pleasure. I', looking at stocking up on rare parts here, so boot lids and bumpers and over riders etc, possibly even a full back end. That way, I can ensure that should anything happen to my car, she be easily and readily repaired.

What an interesting hybrid look it has, love it. Good luck with the rest of the restoration.

The look of these cars is very unique, that's why I like them. It's a pity I can't get a dashboard for mine like in your Elf.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wolsley-Hornet-Riley-Elf-Van-Pick-up-Centre-Clock-Dash-/120879709136?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c24fdfbd0

Would it fit?

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Coco_ChanElf wrote:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Wolsley-Hornet-Riley-Elf-Van-Pick-up-Centre-Clock-Dash-/120879709136?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c24fdfbd0

Would it fit?

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That could be made to fit, but it's NOT an Elf or a Hornet dash. It's a Rokee dash for a Mini.

Might not matter in this instance, though...

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Coco_ChanElf wrote:Might not matter in this instance, though...

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No, I was commenting more on the seller's bad info. As I said, it could be made to fit, just not a proper Elf dash.

Oh yes, that would fit nicely. But I suppose with the plans that I have for the car, a wooden dash wouldn't quite fit in with the theme, unless maybe it's a charcoal item.

Jared Mk3 wrote:The only colour picture I've seen of these cars is this one :



Now, in that black and white photo, the car clearly has the wheel trims fitted, but there is no chrome around the windows on the doors, except for the standard issue of chrome at the base of the window. In the photo above, the car clearly has the chrome around the windows, but no wheel trims. So it seems that there was a discrepancy about which cars got the chrome and which didn't. The same goes for the wheel trims. It seems to be that the later cars i.e. 1971 models or so, lost the chrome around the windows. BMC South Africa was a strange company to be a part of during the merger with Leyland.

Wow, what a fantastic period pic. Do you have anymore archived Mk3 related material?

I think BMC / Leykor must have done whatever they wanted with whatever was to hand regarding trim. My car originally had chrome hubcaps with fancy pierced metal bikini trim rings. SAMK3's car has the same hubcaps and also has pierced bikini rings but they are a different pattern from my car. One is missing which is going to be a bastard to replace!!

Kev

Here's a pick from the motoring journal Stuurwiel which tested a Mk3 in 1969. The test vehicle looks to have the same two tone color scheme as my car. Its the only press pic I have ever seen showing this paint design. It also shows a third design of bikini wheel trim, different from both my and SAMK3's cars.

KevCT

I only have a few extra photos of these cars, most notably being from the September 1969 CAR magazine. Now, the car that they tested was the Leykor prototype, so it still had the "Aussie" doors that were standard fitment on the earlier SA cars. Obviously, before production started, these doors were changed to Elf/Hornet doors with the chrome and door pockets etc. It was noted in Ryno Verster's book that the Mk3 doors had some imperfections and that the first Clubman models available here in South Africa had rectified these faults, so possibly the last few cars received these later doors and in turn lost the chrome around the doors. This could possibly be the reason for the discrepancy in the different doors. Anyhow, here are some pictures :


The prototype car.


Aussie doors clearly seen.




An advertisement for the Mk3.

My car also came with the chrome hubcaps and the fancy wheel trims, but I too only have three of these trims. I'll post a photo of one of these as soon as I get them out the box.

The road test in the magazine also stated that these cars used the 998 engine, but had an 1100 head to lower the compression ratio. Is this so?

Interesting. And the advert says "MK 111"