The information used to compile the following was taken from factory service
parts lists and factory microfiche. Under close scrutiny, there appears to be some conflicts and mistakes in the factory number
schemes, but, for the most part, the listings are accurate enough for car identification.
Please note that the Chassis (VIN) number and the Commission number are only
one indication of the actual model and date of the car. The Chassis number plate is easily duplicated, especially on early
cars, and it is not unusual for later cars not meeting US DOT and EPA standards to have earlier Chassis number plates attached
to them to get them into the US illegally. Also, Chassis number plates have been known to be “faked” to turn a
less valuable car into a more valuable one; e.g., a standard Saloon into a Cooper or Cooper S.
1959 Through September 1969 – English Built
The general format for these
early cars is:
A-A2S7L-###A
First position (“A”
in the above example):
A = Austin (other than Cooper and S)
C = Austin Cooper or Austin Cooper S
K = Morris Cooper or Cooper S
M =Morris
R = Riley
W = Wolseley
Second position (also “A”
in the above example):
= A series engine. Any standard Mini engine for the period:
848cc
970cc Cooper S
997cc Cooper
998cc Cooper and non-Cooper
1071cc Cooper S
1275cc Cooper S
Third position(s) (“2S”
in the above example):
= Body type:
2S = 2-door saloon/sedan. Caution: bureaucratic bungles often
interpret this as 25 (twenty-five)
B = Moke (“Buckboard”!)
U = Pick-up. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the
other.
V = Panel van. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the
other.
W = Estate (with or without wood). Officially, “Dual-purpose”
Fourth position (“7”
in the above example):
= Series of Austin, or Morris, etc.:
1 = Mk I Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet, and Austin/Morris Moke
2 = Mk II Riley Elf or Wolseley Hornet
3 = Mk III Riley Elf or Wolseley Hornet
4 = Mk I Morris
6 = Mk II Morris
7 = Mk I Austin
B = Mk II Austin
Fifth position (“L”
in the above example):
D = De-Luxe.
L = Left hand drive. Right hand drive was not designated
S = Super De-Luxe
Number positions (“###”
in the above example):
= The sequential build number:
The first car at Longbridge was number 101, as was the first
at Cowley. From then on, each factory continued with their own number sequence regardless of the model; e.g., Saloon, Van,
etc. In other words, each model did not start at 101 and maintain its own sequence. Saloons and Vans, etc., are mixed in the
number sequence along with the Cooper and Cooper S models.
The number sequence was into seven digits, #######, by the
end of September 1969.
Last position (“A”
in the above example):
= Assembly plant. Officially, “Internal Use Only”
This seems to be used inconsistently on English built cars
and it is understood that the car was built at the “normal” factory if the letter is left off; e.g., an Austin,
Riley or Wolseley at Longbridge may or may not have an A after the sequence number.
Yes, there were Austin Minis built at the Morris plant in
Cowley and Morris Minis built at the Austin plant in Longbridge.
Note that all English built Cooper and Cooper S models (Austin
and Morris) as well as Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet models were built at the Longbridge, Austin plant.
A = Longbridge
M = Cowley
Examples:
A-A2S7-123456 (or A-A2S7-123456A)
A right hand drive, Mk I, Austin Mini Saloon built at Longbridge
M-A2S6-1234567 (or M-A2S6-1234567M)
A right hand drive, Mk II, Morris Mini Saloon built at Cowley
C-A2S7L-123456
A left hand drive, Mk I, Austin Cooper or Cooper S
R-A2S2-123456
A right hand drive, Mk II, Riley Elf
A-AB1L-123456
A left hand drive, Austin Moke
M-AU4-123456
A right hand drive, Mk I Morris Pick-up
Back to Top
October 1969 to 1974 “Model Year” – English Built
During the previous months leading up to the cars in this time period, a Commission
Number was introduced to go along with the Chassis Number/VIN. Both are helpful in identifying a car.
CHASSIS NUMBER/VIN
The general format for the Chassis
Number/VIN for these cars is:
X-A2S1N-XXX-A
VIN, First Position (“X”
in the above example):
This is simply dismissed by the factory as “non significant”!
VIN, Second Position (“A”
in the above example):
= Engine type
848cc
998
1275cc Cooper S and 1275 GT
VIN, Third Position (“2S”
in the above example):
= Body type
2S = 2-door saloon/sedan. (Except Mk III Copper S and 1275GT) Caution:
bureaucratic bungles often interpret this as 25 (twenty-five)
2W = Estate (“2 Door Dual Purpose”)
D = 2 door saloon (Mk III Cooper S and 1275GT only)
U = Pick-up. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.
V = Panel van. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.
VIN, Fourth Position (“1N”
in the above example):
[Blank] = Mini 850. Produced only in the “round nose” style
1 = Round nose, traditional Mini body style. Includes: Mini 1000, Mk
III Cooper S, Van, and Pick-up.
2 = Clubman, square nose style. Includes: Clubman saloon, Clubman Estate,
and 1275GT.
VIN, Fifth Position (“N”
in the above example):
N = Mini 1000
VIN, Number positions (“###”
in the above example):
= The sequential build number:
Unlike the earlier cars, each “type” started with number 101; e.g.,
the first Mini 850 in this range started with 101 as did the first Mini 1000, the first Mk III Cooper S, etc.
VIN, Last position (“A”
in the above example):
= Assembly plant. Officially, “Internal Use Only”
If used at all, this would
be “A” for English built cars. All English built Minis were now being built at Longbridge.
A = Longbridge
Commission Number
The general format for the Commission
Number is:
N20S-XXX
Commission Number, First Positions
(“N20S” in the above example):
= 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 (“###”
in the above example):
Sequential number starting at 101 for each car type.
Back to Top
1974 “Model Year” To 1980 “Model Year” – English Built
VIN
The general format for the VIN for
these cars is:
X-K2S1N-XXX-A
VIN, First Position (“X”
in the above example):
This is simply dismissed by the factory as “non significant”!
VIN, Second Position (“K”
in the above example):
= 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
VIN, Third Position (“2S”
in the above example):
= Body type
2D: The factory microfiche does not list a designator for the 1275GT.
This would imply there wasn’t one; however, it is likely the 2D designator was still used. The microfiche shows
2D used for the 1980 model year. If no designator is listed, the Commission number must be used to identify the 1275GT.
2S = 2-door saloon/sedan. (Except 1275GT) Caution: bureaucratic bungles
often interpret this as 25 (twenty-five)
2W = Estate (“2 Door Dual Purpose”)
U = Pick-up. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.
V = Panel van. Caution: U and V can be mistaken one for the other.
VIN, Fourth Position (“1”
in the above example):
1 = Round nose, traditional 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.
VIN, Fifth Position (“N”
in the above example):
N = Special Deluxe (Except for North America). Includes the Mini 850
Special Deluxe, the Mini 1000, and the Mini Special 1098cc.
North America:
A = 1970
B = 1971
C = 1972
D = 1973
E = 1974
F = 1975
G = 1976
H = 1977
J = 1978
L = 1979
VIN, Number positions (“###”
in the above example):
= The sequential build number:
Each “type” of car (with one exception) started with number 101;
e.g., the first Mini 850 in this range started with 101 as did the first Mini 1000, the first 1275GT, etc.
The factory records list one exception: the export Mini Special 1098cc. The
starting number, for some reason, is listed as 1012011
VIN, Last position (“A”
in the above example):
= Assembly plant. Officially, “Internal Use Only”
If used at all, this would be “A” for English built cars.
A = Longbridge
COMMISSION NUMBER
The general format for the Commission
Number is:
N20S-XXX
Commission Number, First Positions
(“N20S” in the above example):
= 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 (“###”
in the above example):
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
Note that there is no
listed explanation for the “A” and “L” endings. If these are intended to be the same as used for VIN
numbers, the “A” would be Longbridge. Literature has suggested that “L” = Morocco! This has not been
confirmed from factory microfiche.
