Mechanical Changes
This section is designed to help with the identification of some key features that distinguish a 1959 mini mechanically from later minis.
We hope this will aid members in buying and restoring their cars.
Air cleaner housing
The picture on the left is the very early type fitted to cars prior to August 1959. The air intake points towards the radiator. It was replaced by the type on the right which pointed towards the clutch. This type continued to be used for many years. It was changed due to the early type causing possible carburettor icing in cold conditions. Most of the early type were replaced making the early type a very rare item now.
These photos show the very early pre October radius arms on the left and the later normal post October type on the right.
The early type had a large bracket on the arm to accept a special curved tube attached to the hand brake cable with NO pivoting quadrant. The later (right hand picture) type has a rotating quadrant, this uses the normal common hand brake cable.
Handbrake Cables
On the left we have a picture of the very early hand brake cable that you need in conjunction with the non pivoting quadrant radius arms. On the right is the normal type cable . Note the tube in the left hand picture and the absence of the locating dowel present in the right hand picture.
Radiator.
In the left hand photograph we have a 1959 flat topped radiator. In the right hand photograph we have a normal rounded radiator.
PD fuel pump.
The PD type fuel pump on the left was used on all 1959 cars and though 1960. The later type pump is on the right.
Master cylinders
The master cylinders in the left hand picture are the two early types.
The far left hand master cylinder is the earliest 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 middle master cylinder which has a dummy nut sometime in 1960. The cap used on all early cylinders is the metal type.
On the right is the later tapered type, including a plastic cap.
Riveted wheels
On the left is a picture of a riveted wheel, there are two rivets you can see holding the centre of the wheel to the rim. In the right hand picture is a later welded wheel, The thickness of the steel used was increased at the same time.
Brake back plates
On the left you can see that the adjuster plate is riveted on as a separate piece rather than being part of the plate as on the later back plate in the right hand photograph.
Engine
On all 1959 cars there will be no adjuster on the end on the clutch housing as in the left hand picture. If the engine has been changed to a later type the adjuster will be present as in the right hand picture.
Top of engine detail
On the left is the Winguard glass bottle, the correct one has UGB 16 embossed on the bottom. It is a 16 fl.oz capacity. On the right is a Tudor plastic type. All Morris’s had the Winguard glass bottle but we believe that up to half of all Austins built had the plastic Tudor type of bottle. Only the very early pre launch Austin’s definitely had the Winguard system.
Cooling Fan
Austins were yellow. Early Morris’s were red. Eventually all painted yellow
Drive Shafts
Very early Drive Shafts off an extremely early car in Denmark. Note the gearbox end with metal screw fixings to the flange instead of the normal rubber gaiter. Also grease nipples. Note also the U- Bolts have small stops to stop the U-Bolt being overtightened onto the rubber coupling.
Exhaust
These two pictures show the difference between a standard single box system on the left and a system for a floor start Mk1.
Spark plug leads and caps
The plug lead caps are Champion type with this raised circular lump on the centre.
