Exterior Changes

This section is designed to help with the identification of some external features such as bright work and trim that distinguish a 1959 Mini from later Minis.
We hope this will aid 1959 Mini owners in buying and restoring their cars.

Glass Date Codes

The image on the left represents the Triplex glass which is coded the 2nd quarter 1959.
The image on the right represents the Indestructo glass which is coded the 2nd quarter 1960.

Taken from John Parnell’s “Original Mini Cooper and Cooper S”

On UK built 59′s there were two makes of glass used, Indestructo and Triplex.
With Indestructo the, manufacturers name is in an arch with two letters under each leg of the name. the First two letter on the left side are the ones we use for dating for example RU. The first letter “R” is used for the quarter of the year based on BRIT so R = 2nd quarter.
The second letter U is for the year based on the word “INDESTRUCTO” as follows I=7, N=8, D=9, E=0, S=1, T=2, R=3,U=4, C=5, O=6, some of the letter were ignored. RU is 2nd quarter of 64 (can only be a year of Mini production)  1959 dates would be BD, RD, ID or TD
Triplex dates are taken from dots above or below words in the company motif.
The year is shown by a dot under a letters of the words “Laminated” for windscreens or more commonly “Toughened”. A dot under the first letter of either word represents a year ending in a 1 so 61 or 71. under the second letter is for a year ending 2 so 62 or 72 etc etc
For 1959 dated glass we’re looking for a dot under D for 9 or 59 in our case.
The quarter is dated using T, R, E and X of the word TRIPLEX with the quarters running consecutively T=1st, R=2nd quarter etc

De Luxe Wheel Trims

These two photographs show the different wheel trims. On the left is a 1959- 1960 rectangular holed one and on the right the later 1960 onwards moon shaped hole type.

As you can see in these photographs the early hubcaps are smaller than the later type leaving a rim of exposed paint from the wheel.

Basic hub cap.

The basic hub caps are plain discs that cover the centre of the wheel only. These hub caps were used on various 10 inch wheels such as coopers.

De-Luxe Rear Quarter Light Windows

This picture shows the different De-luxe opening rear windows.
The thinner type handle is from a 1959 mini.
The later ones are the wider type (top of picture)

Basic rear quarter lights

The basic model had fixed rear quarter lights

One hole glass and catch

The left hand photograph shows the one hole glass and catch used on all 1959 Austin minis. The Morris cars have a change point to two hole glass of the last quarter in 59.
We know of a late October Morris with correctly dated glass that’s two hole. But we also know of a December built Morris again with correctly dated glass that’s one hole. We have not yet come across a 59 built Austin with original two hole glass. The change point for these is in the first quarter of 60. On the right is the two hole glass. The characteristic of the one hole glass and catch is the lack of a locating dowel allowing the whole catch to rotate when your trying to slide the window. You can see the circular scratches in the glass.

Long bumpers

The long bumpers in the left hand picture were thought to have been replaced by the normal length bumpers in the right hand picture at some point in 1959, however we have recently discovered an April 1960 built car with these long bumpers on. We can’t say for certain if these have been fitted at some other point in the cars life or from new. If anyone has an early car that they know definitely has it’s original bumpers, the extra help would be very much appreciated in trying to get a more accurate date.

Seam trim

Using the same picture as above we can show the difference between the De-luxe trim (left) and the Basic (right). The Basics were fitted with body coloured trim were as the De-luxe had chrome look trim.

Window rubber seals and finishers

In the left hand picture is a basic window seal, you can see that it’s all black. On the right is a de-luxe with the chrome insert.

Door Hinges

All 1959 built cars have brass door hindges. These were replaced with cast steel ones late 1960.