Thanks all for the information. Saw the car on Wednesday and confirmed it’s a gold seal unit, same as ADO16 1300GT. Car is originally a 997 Cooper. It needs new front floors and some front clip work, but mostly solid. I like the engine and I like the Cooper provenance, but neither is really great together. I almost wish it was a base model with a 1275 in it. It’s kind of a shame to me to have a Cooper that’s not original, but I don’t really want a 997! It’s kind of a debate of buying it for the engine or buying it for the Cooper-ness....
  

From the internet so it must be true... 

"A Gold Seal Engine (a BMC trademark) was a factory Reconditioned replacement engine (painted gold), so, Yes really.

These engines had a regrind, rebore, new pistons, bearings, new cam etc with Unipart supplying the parts.



The Inno 1275 was 'identical' to the S other than the crank.

The GT was the weak sister of the Inno.

Other than the internet part referenced above, all of the above is from memory, having had, in addition to the usual gaggle of Minis  a couple of 1275 S's, an Inno 1300 (and an Authi 1300 for what its worth) - and never once considered a 1275GT .

I do have some standards.  

Not really.... Back in the day Gold Seal was applied to factory *replacement* engines... which you bought from your local BMC dealer.  Others may well have appropriated the label for their own use.....  I'm sure the Factory wouldn't bother to obtain/store/rebuild old engines (as in recondition) ..they'd just divert a few engines from the regular (new engine) production line.  GSs came complete but you could also buy "short" engines...blocks compete with crank, rods, pistons cam etc under the "Sliver Seal" label.

GT engines were not the same as S engines (apart from the few early Oz versions .. which are significantly different from their UK cousins). S engines were the only big bore type with side plates; GTs didn't..... (don't know about Innos).  i.e. So.. different blocks, cranks, rods... manifolds, exhausts and probably different versions of the 940 head....and different compression ratios??  From memory the GT had about 60hp Vs the S's 75.

While GTs engines weren't, by definition, Gold Seal units I'll bet you could buy a GS for your GT....

Cheers, Ian

Gold Seal engines were originally factory recons but the name was adopted by a number of companies along the way, back in the UK - and that is what they were - reconned engines.

The engines in the 1275GT/1300 Innos were identical to the Cooper S with the exception of the crank and were not ever 'Gold Seal' when new.

The detuning was that the 1275Gt came with a single carb, and possible a milder cam  - dunno, I just know is was a LOT slower than the 1275 in the Inno


This engine you refer to, as long as it in decent condition, should be just fine.

Here is a useful description.

//mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/be100a.htm

oldminimover.. you might be right.. but weren't they replacement engines from longbridge?? and they sold at minispares ect..??

I always thought the gold seal engines were factory rebuild

LiMini. I think back in the day. both minispares.com and minisport.com both sold Gold Seal engines.. ?? did you check with Mick Holt at Minisport yet?? later bc

Bill, haven’t had a chance to check all that yet. All I know is that it’s running.

Spitz, it’s this one

GSE1109E     1275cc - Gold Seal unit for 1300GT (ADO16) and Innocenti 1300, 11-stud cylinder head

I misspoke about 1275GT. It’s the 1300GT, not a Mini. Still wondering if anyone has had any experience with this lump?

Didn't think they were used in the Inno....they had near a 70bhp output as I recall....GT only 50 something

LiMini.. how many miles on the gold seal engine..?? did you check the compression yet?? all depend on both these factors to me.. later bc

I have the opportunity to look at a car that has a Gold Seal 1275GT motor in it. 11 stud head and all. I don't know much about these engines, except what I have gleaned from KC's engine guide. It says the engine was used in 1275GTs and 1300 Innos. What does it have in common with other engines of the same capacity? I remember reading a long time ago that it was basically a detuned CooperS engine that they dropped in 1275GTs to curb the insurance rate. Can anyone shed light on this?
Also, I haven't seen many for sale recently. Anyone have any values they would like to throw out there?