Find out the true identity of your Mini engine. Using the VIN number
stamped on a plate on the inner wing or bonnet slam panel, and also
stamped into the scuttle on later models. There should also be an
identification tag on the engine block with the VIN number on. Unfortunately we cannot help you if you cannot decypher the coding.To decode your VIN number, scroll down to find the approximate year. If unknown, check through each section. 1959 - September 1969 Early car VIN format is like this: C-A2S7L-###A First position (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): A = Austin (non-Cooper and S) C = Austin Cooper or Austin Cooper S K = Morris Cooper or Cooper S M = Morris R = Riley W = Wolseley Second position (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): = A-Series engine. Engines for this period included: 848cc, 970cc Cooper S, 997cc Cooper, 998cc Cooper and non-Cooper, 1071cc Cooper S, 1275cc Cooper S Third position(s) (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): = Body type: 2S = 2-door saloon B = Moke U = Pick-up V = Minivan W = Estate (with or without wood). Fourth position (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): = Series of Austin, or Morris, etc.: 1 = MkI Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet, and Austin/Morris Moke 2 = MkII Riley Elf or Wolseley Hornet 3 = MkIII Riley Elf or Wolseley Hornet 4 = MkI Morris 6 = MkII Morris 7 = MkI Austin B = MkII Austin Fifth position (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): D = De-Luxe. L = Left hand drive. (no right hand drive designation) S = Super De-Luxe Number positions (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): = The sequential build number: Cars produced at Longbridge and Cowley both started with the numbers 101. These were mixed up across all model types. The numbers extend to seven digits by September 1969. Last position (e.g. C-A2S4L-###A): = Assembly plant A = Longbridge M = Cowley October 1969 to 1974 The VIN format for these cars is like this: X-A2S1N-XXX-A First Position (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): Not used Second Position (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): = Engine type A = A-Series (inc. 848cc, 998cc, 1275cc Cooper S and 1275 GT) Third Position (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): = Body type 2S = 2-door saloon. (not MkIII Cooper S and 1275GT) 2W = Estate D = 2 door saloon (MkIII Cooper S and 1275GT only) U = Pick-up. V = Minivan. Fourth Position (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): [Blank] = Mini 850 1 = Round nose 2 = Clubman Fifth Position (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): N = Mini 1000 Number positions (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): = The sequential build number: Each model type is numbered in sequence from 101 Last position (X-A2S1N-XXX-A): = Assembly plant. A = Longbridge Commission Number Commission Number format: N20S-XXX First Positions (N20S-XXX): = Car type 20U = Pick-up 20V = Van 20W = Clubman Estate D20S = Mini 850 N20D = Mk III Cooper S N20S = Mini 1000 S20D = 1275GT S20S = Clubman Commission Number positions (N20S-XXX): Numbering in sequential order starting at 101 for each model. 1974 - 1980 The VIN format for these cars is like this: X-K2S1N-XXX-A First Position (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): Not used Second Position (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): = Engine type A = [Unknown if this was used. If so, it indicated any of the A series engines still in production at that time] C = 1098cc E = 1275cc K = 848cc L = 998cc Third Position (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): = Body type 2S = 2-door saloon (not 1275GT) 2W = Estate U = Pick-up V = Minivan. Fourth Position (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): 1 = Round nose, Mini body style. Includes: Mini 850, Mini 850 City, Mini 850 Special Deluxe, Mini 1000, Van (848cc and 998cc), Mini Special 1098cc, and Pick-up (850cc and 998cc). 2 = Clubman, square nose style. Includes: Clubman Saloon (998cc Automatic and 1098cc Manual), Clubman Estate (998cc Automatic and 1098cc Manual), and 1275GT. Fifth Position (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): N = Special Deluxe. Including the Mini 850 Special Deluxe, the Mini 1000, and the Mini Special 1098cc. Number positions (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): = The sequential build number: Each Mini model began with the number 101 and continued in sequence. The 1100 Mini Special numbering began as 1012011 Last position (X-E2S1N-XXX-A): = Assembly plant. A = Longbridge COMMISSION NUMBER The Commission number format for these cars is like this: N20S-XXX First Positions (N20S-XXX): = Car type 20U = Pick-up 20V = Van 20W = Clubman Estate B20S = Mini City D20S = Mini 850 J20S = Mini 1100 Special (UK only) N20S = Mini 1000 S20D = 1275GT S20S = Clubman T20S = Mini 850 Super Commission Number positions (N20S-XXX): Starting numbers are as follows: 20U = 13205L 20V = 84679L 20W = 77031A B20S = 101 D20S = 83622L J20S = 101 N20S = 20531L and 230547A S20D = 19416A S20S = 104632A T20S = 101 There is no explanation for the “A” and “L” endings. 1980 VIN plate marked, “BL CARS LTD” The VIN format for these cars is like this: X-C2S2N-XXX-A First Position (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): Not used Second Position (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): = Engine type C = 1098cc E = 1275cc K = 848cc L = 998cc Third Position (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): = Body type 2D = 1275GT 2S = 2-door saloon (not 1275GT) 2W = Estate U = Pick-up V = Minivan Fourth Position (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): = Series of model 1 = Round nose, traditional Mini body style. 2 = Clubman, square nose style. Fifth Position (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): = Specification N = Special Deluxe Number positions (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): = The sequential build number: Numbers carried on from previous production Last position (X-C2S2N-XXX-A): = Assembly plant. A = Longbridge Oct 1980 to Nov 1985 VIN plate marked, “Austin Rover Group LTD” The VIN format for these cars is like this: SAX-X-C2S1N-XXX-A First Three Positions (SAX-X-C2S1N-XXX-A): World Make Identifier. Started Feb 1981. SAX = MG-Rover Fourth Position (SAX-X-C2S1N-XXX-A): Not used Fifth Position (SAX-X-C2S1N-XXX-A): = Engine type C = 1098cc K = 848cc L = 998cc Sixth (and Seventh) Position (SAX-X-K2S1N-XXX-A): = Body type 2S = 2-door saloon 2W = Estate G = P.O. Mail Van U = Pick-up. V = Minivan. Eighth Position (SAX-X-K2S1N-XXX-A): = Series of model 1 = Round nose, traditional Mini body style. 2 = Clubman, square nose style. Ninth Position (SAX-X-K2S1N-XXX-A): = Specification N = HL, Special, HLE, or Mayfair R = Mini 25 S = Mayfair (LHD – France only) Number positions (SAX-X-K2S1N-XXX-A): = The sequential build number: Build numbers continue with the numbers from the previous series of cars Last position (SAX-X-K2S1N-XXX-A): = Assembly plant. A = Longbridge Nov 1985 to 1990 VIN plate marked, “Austin Rover Group LTD” The general format for the VIN for these cars is: SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A First Three Positions (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A) World Make Identifier SAX = MG-Rover Fourth Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): Not used Fifth Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Engine type L = 998cc VIN, Sixth (and Seventh) Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Body type 2S = 2-door saloon Eighth Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Series of body 1 = Round nose, Mini body style. Ninth Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Class N = HLE, Mayfair (RHD) O = E, City E S = Mayfair (LHD) Tenth Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Model year 2 = 1984 on Eleventh Position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Driving position 0 = RHD 1 = LHD Number positions (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = The sequential build number: Numbers continue from the previous series Last position (SAX-X-L2S1N20-XXX-A): = Assembly plant. A = Longbridge 1990 On (1275cc cars only) The general format for the VIN for these cars is: SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-###### First Three Positions (SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-######) = World Make Identifier. SAX = MG-Rover Fourth and Fifth Positions (SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-######): XN = Mini 1275 Sixth Position (SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-######): = Class N = Sport, Cooper, Cabriolet V = Kensington W = HLS, Mayfair Y = City, Sprite Seventh Position (SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-######): = Body type A = 2-door saloon/sedan. B = Cabriolet Eighth Position (SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-######): = Engine D = 1275 Carb M = 1275 Carb X = 1275 SPi (standard compression ratio, 9.4:1) Y = 1275 SPi (high compression ratio, 10.1:1) Z = 1275 MPi (high compression ratio, 10.1:1) Ninth Position (SAX-XN-N-A-D-B-B-D-######): = RHD/LHD, Transmission type, Final Drive B = RHD, Manual, 3.105 C = RHD, Manual, 3.21 E = RHD, Manual, 2.76 K = RHD, Automatic M = LHD, Manual, 3.105 N = LHD, Manual, 3.21 R = LHD, Manual, 2.76 Y = LHD, Automatic Tenth Position (SAX-XN-N-A-Y-B-B-D-######): = Model Change A = 1275 Special Edition B = 1275 Eleventh Position (SAX-XN-N-A-Y-B-B-D-######): = Assembly Plant D = Longbridge Number positions (SAX-XN-N-A-Y-B-B-D-######): = The sequential build number: Starting with 010001 |
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