I need to determine the exact year of this Austin Cooper (not an S) that I bought a few months ago. It needs some body parts. I’m pretty sure it was brought into the U.S. as used because it doesn’t meet U.S. spec for the year on the title which is 1972. The VIN tag doesn’t properly indicate the year. The electric system is more like a late 70s-80s car (4 fuse). The door glass is one piece (no wind wings). The electric switches are 4 rockers that are the shorter type and it has dip switch on left stalk, wiper on right stalk. Left hand drive. The shifter is the short one that comes out of the floor just in front of the seats. Options that I know of are rear window defrost and brake check. Any Ideas out there of where to look for an answer?
What is the UK registration hidden behind your Arizona plates?
The year of manufacture for various parts of the car is stamped ino them. This isn’t always the build year of the actual car, but can give you an idea. The trunk latch and wiper motor have a date stamped in and the windshield may have a code of dots by the manufacturers name that will reveal the age.
> What is the UK registration hidden behind your Arizona plates?
The year of manufacture for various parts of the car is stamped ino them. This isn’t always the build year of the actual car, but can give you an idea. The trunk latch and wiper motor have a date stamped in and the windshield may have a code of dots by the manufacturers name that will reveal the age.
> > What is the UK registration hidden behind your Arizona plates?
The year of manufacture for various parts of the car is stamped ino them. This isn’t always the build year of the actual car, but can give you an idea. The trunk latch and wiper motor have a date stamped in and the windshield may have a code of dots by the manufacturers name that will reveal the age.
That’s what we call a suffix plate so the year is represented by the K at the end, it relates to the '72 car that has been destroyed by someone in order to make your car look older than it is.
There’s very little dateable stuff left on that car that was original to it. I think it looks like an '88 car though from what I can see. Can you post a photo showing the engine and routing of the heater hoses?
> That’s what we call a suffix plate so the year is represented by the K at the end, it relates to the '72 car that has been destroyed by someone in order to make your car look older than it is.
There’s very little dateable stuff left on that car that was original to it. I think it looks like an '88 car though from what I can see. Can you post a photo showing the engine and routing of the heater hoses?
The boot latch date is 15-86. The wiper is 5-85. The engine is an A+. The heater hose routing was from the coolant pump hose to the intake manifold then to the firewall. I’m having problems uploading more pix
I dont know if this was always the case but behind the door cards on mine,on the metal of the door the actual date the doors were made is stamped in,they are 1 day apart from each other and very close to the date the car was first registered. Obviously that relies on still having original doors but worth a look
Ok, I’ve seen the updated photos. I was going on the route of a heater hose in one of the earlier photos when I said '88 but someone has changed the heater layout entirely in your car. I’d happily accept that as an '86 car based on the component stamps and the general build of what might still be original. Does it have the small rectangular turn signal repeater lamps above the front wheels? Or wiring for them? These were introduced during '86 but given that the car has some '85 dated parts it’s probably an early '86 car from before the lamps were introduced. The starter was changed from innertia to pre-engaged during '85 so using those two change points you could nail it down to within a few months. Even when people swap things like the starter and ring gear they tend to leave evidence of what they have done in the wiring. If it was originally built as a pre-engaged car for example it will have a starter relay on the RH inner wing, just ahead of where your wiper motor would be if the RHD/LHD conversion had been done by someone competant! In fact, going by the way this car seems to have been hastily converted, check that the steering rack has been swapped for a LHD one and not just turned upside down because it will wear out quickly and handle poorly if mounted upside-down. Also check that LHD pedals have been fitted, having the wrong pedals makes the driving position feel very odd. My own car was subject to a very poor conversion the other way around by a previous owner and I had a LHD clutch pedal for years before I worked out why my foot was so far under the heater.
> Ok, I’ve seen the updated photos. I was going on the route of a heater hose in one of the earlier photos when I said '88 but someone has changed the heater layout entirely in your car. I’d happily accept that as an '86 car based on the component stamps and the general build of what might still be original. Does it have the small rectangular turn signal repeater lamps above the front wheels? Or wiring for them? These were introduced during '86 but given that the car has some '85 dated parts it’s probably an early '86 car from before the lamps were introduced. The starter was changed from innertia to pre-engaged during '85 so using those two change points you could nail it down to within a few months. Even when people swap things like the starter and ring gear they tend to leave evidence of what they have done in the wiring. If it was originally built as a pre-engaged car for example it will have a starter relay on the RH inner wing, just ahead of where your wiper motor would be if the RHD/LHD conversion had been done by someone competant! In fact, going by the way this car seems to have been hastily converted, check that the steering rack has been swapped for a LHD one and not just turned upside down because it will wear out quickly and handle poorly if mounted upside-down. Also check that LHD pedals have been fitted, having the wrong pedals makes the driving position feel very odd. My own car was subject to a very poor conversion the other way around by a previous owner and I had a LHD clutch pedal for years before I worked out why my foot was so far under the heater.
No little rectangular lights on side of fenders or evidence of wiring. The wiring going to the starter looks original, but I’ll check for regulator. I 'll look under the door cards for a date (I might get lucky). I never thought it might be a RHD conversion to LHD, just because it looks like too much work to be worth the effort, but now I’ll be open minded to that and take a closer look. Dan, I think you might have it narrowed down to a few years plus or minus. Thanks
> check that the steering rack has been swapped for a LHD one and not just turned upside down because it will wear out quickly and handle poorly if mounted upside-down.
It would, indeed, handle poorly… it would go left when you turn the steering wheel right!!
If the washer bottle is original, and it’s not something that would normally be changed, it is pre 1988.
As GW says, it’s a 1275, probably from a Metro.
Can’t quite make out from the picture… do the two water hoses going to the heater enter close to each other (2" or so apart) or is one right at the top of the heater box?
Close = 1984 to 1991.
Top and bottom of heater = Pre 1984.
> late 70s/early 80s, mk3
Theres no holes in the top dash rail
hole in the inner wing for air scoop
Raised area under the wiper motor
Yes, heater hoses are 2 inches apart going into the heater. yes to holes in inner wing for air. Yes to raised area (approx 1/4 inch) under wiper motor. Only holes in top of dash are defrost and ashtray.
As far as handling, this car out handles my MGB.
> As far as handling, this car out handles my MGB.
I should certainy hope so! Mini : 4 wheel independant suspension by double wishbones/trailing arms with self damped springs all round. As in a sportscar. MGB : Kingpins, lever arm dampers, live axle on cart springs, essentially a stagecoach!
> > As far as handling, this car out handles my MGB.
I should certainy hope so! Mini : 4 wheel independant suspension by double wishbones/trailing arms with self damped springs all round. As in a sportscar. MGB : Kingpins, lever arm dampers, live axle on cart springs, essentially a stagecoach!
> Just a quick note, late 70’s, would be Mk4. Mk3’s still had the round tunnel, Mk4 1976 onwards had the flat topped tunnel.
Just when I thought the car was from the 80s, I pulled the carpet and see a round tunnel. This car may be a gathering of quite a few different pieces. I checked all the windows and except the windscreen they have a date code of 9-82.
I guess I’ll just order body parts for a MK3 and hope it’s right
