From time to time we email people who have registered their cars for invites to shows etc.
Unfortunately we receive a lot of "bounced" emails.
Would you be sure to send us an update if you change your email address via the contact form please?
This is the only way we can communicate with you.

No MOT for our 1959 Minis

As from the 18th November 2012 it will not be necessary to MOT pre 1960 cars.

For full details please read this letter recently sent to us by the DVLA.

Variations Engine Bay

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Variations – Engine Bay

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Early style air box points towards the radiator.  This style of air box was replaced after Morris chassis 375 and Austin RHD 2510, LHD 1361. Later style air box pointed to the exhaust manifold taking warm air instead of cold to prevent the carb icing up.
image003 Memo for replacing the early style air box on early cars if necessary.
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Very early style vacuum diaphragm unit with large nut where pipe fits, fitted up to approximately chassis 500. Early style fitted on a car.
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Later style vacuum diaphragm. Correct DM2 distributer.
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59 engines have no adjuster on the clutch throw out stop. Unlike October 1960 > style clutch housings.
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Block drain tap on a 59/60 engine. The heater take off tap is accessed from the engine bay on top of the head.
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A four blade fan was fitted to all home market cars, yellow on Austin and red on early Morris cars only, all yellow from mid-way through 59 production.  Export cars to hotter climates had a six blade export fan.  The sixteen blade fan was introduced in Aug 61.
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Oil filler cap is metal. Early magnesium gearboxes – Please follow this link for more information on this subject.
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The master cylinders in the picture are the two earliest types.
The far left hand master cylinder is the correct 1959 type which incorporates a removable “nut” in order to access the seals.  This would be fitted to all 1959 cars.  It was replaced by the right hand master cylinder which has a dummy nut 2nd week in January 1960.  The cap used on all early cylinders is the metal type.
This style of tapered master cylinder was not fitted to 59 cars originally including a plastic cap.
image022 Correct early master cylinders and steel pipes fitted to an early 59.
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This style dot type Champion spark plug caps were fitted to all 1959 Minis.
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A flat topped radiator.  All corner top hose inlet radiators are correct for 1959. A round top hose inlet radiator.
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The Coventry radiator plaque is not always present. Some had Morris Motors radiators rather than Coventry.
image028 A later style radiator without the top hose inlet in the near corner.
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A one piece radiator cowling was fitted until chassis number 4231
image043 Memo showing at the bottom that from car number 4232 a split radiator cowl is fitted.
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Two types of washer system were used on both Austin and Morris cars.  Standard on de-luxe and optional on basic cars.
Wingard glass bottle and accompanying bracket and pump.  The correct bottle will have UGB 16 embossed on the bottom.  It is a 16 floz capacity.  Glass bottle fitted to Morris cars up until chassis number 34014.  Plastic Tudor has no end date recorded.
A Wingard Glass bottle in place.
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The rival plastic Tudor bottle and bracket with different pump.  Recorded as fitted to both Morris & Austin but only even seen in Austin cars in 1959. A very early engine bay photograph of an Austin fitted with a Tudor Bottle.
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Correct 59 style domed horn. Correct 59 type top engine steady bar.
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A dynamo with a straight or stepped body is correct for both Austin and Morris.
image038 A 59 coil should be Type LA12 and not HA12, so this, with green label LA12 is the correct one.
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A cast water pump with grease screw is correct for all 59’s. The screw clearly visible on the water pump.
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