What kind of visors does it have.

Thanks for the input. Trying to set up a time to look at it

If you duck down and peek up under the heater box under the parcel shelf, sometimes there painter does not get all the original paint covered.  If the vin and engine numbers match the heritage certificate, and the car is wet and has an S engine, S speedo, it would appear that you have an S.  It could have been reshelled due to an accident or rot, or the respray might have been a full body strip and repaint so you'd not find any evidence of the original paint.

You could try removing the dome light from the headliner and use a flashlight to see if you can view the original color there also.

Pix will help the community help you.

Does it have the S trim on the doors?  Chrome bracket on the steering column? Chrome stick shifter?  125 speedo? Brocade interior matching the heritage certificate?

All this can be added of course in a clone build, but you should be able to judge the vintage of the interior by sight.

Get some pix up on the board.

Usual new nonsense always lurks on this forum.
Sad it was good for years but gone 5 or 10 years ago...
Creditability not here these days. IMHO

Really ??? 

which would you regret more?
Buying it as advertised and finding out later it is not as stated on the Heritage certificate?
or
Someone else buying it before you make a decision?

If it is the former, go ahead and share the seller information so people can stop asking you and starting asking the seller their questions. If you are reluctant to do so, then ask yourself if you really are that concerned about it not being as stated on the Heritage Cert.

Thanks, do you believe this car is the same car represented on the heritage certificate ? I am having doubts with the lack of color change evidence and date codes on the few parts that I saw.

Projects I have so I'm not in the market but I would suggest you
view the car in person as I did.
It's a remarkable french born authentic Cooper S.

Thanks for your response. The date codes for the items I listed are all 12/65 to 02/66  (Too much of a coincidence for replacement) and the body # tag is missing. Chassis/vin tag is there, but we all know how easy that is to fake. I have read of mini collectors who have such a large data base of FE #'s that they can approximate a build month. I was hoping to find that info here. 

I would not dismiss this as a "different", "non-S" car than the certificate based only on the date codes of the components.  Items like the wiper motor and dim/dip switch could have been replaced as part of routine service.  The glass and boot lid (complete with lock) may have been replaced following accident damage. 

Chuck will probably know for sure but a '65 should probably have a body number tag in addition to the chassis/VIN tag.  On my July, 1964 car this is a 6 digit number stamped into a narrow, long, rectangular plate with rounded ends spot welded onto the slam panel to the left of the bonnet latch as you stand looking at the engine.  The numbers on the body plate should match those on the Heritage certificate if this is the same car.  The Heritage certificate should list the body number right below the VIN number.


 

Photos, as suggested, would be helpful.

Even if you find one of the few people who know the FE numbers (try here: //mk1-forum.net/ ) that won't let you know whether the car is an S or not.

You indicated that you do not have the body number. I assume you mean the Chassis Number (as the VIN was called in those days). If you have a number starting C-A2S7 (Austin S) or M-A2S4 (Morris S) you have a Chassis Number. It should match what is on the Heritage Certificate.

Does the Heritage Certificate indicate the car was only red?

Thanks, I was suspicious about the date codes on some of the items. I have read in the past that some people have such extensive data bases on these cars that they can give an approximate build date based on the FE #'s. I have Parnell's book (lots of information).

Hmmm, none of the part dates support June 65, FE numbers can only give an approximate build date. If this is an S car, there are Cooper and S only things to look for. Which is to say it can't be an S without first being a Cooper, so boot board brackets, snaps for the carpeting, insulation under the rear parcel shelf, and a number of other cooper things plus more for an S spec car. Try MK1 mini web site.

Photos are best for someone that really know what to look for which is not me. The book from John Parnell on Cooper and S cars is your best bet to learn on your own.

FE tag is not helpful in decoding anything, sorry.

I am considering purchasing a June 2, 1965 (build date on heritage cert.) 1275 S. The body number plate is missing (concerns me) The FE tag is attached and it reads FE938966. Can anyone decode this and tell me if it could be legitimate? Also other items which concern me are: wiper motor 1/66 date, dimmer 12/65 date, rear boot latch 2/66 date. rear glass 4th qtr 65 date. Also the heritage certificate says it was red originally (car is now blue) and I can not find any evidence of red paint anywhere. Thanks in advance for any input !!! I dont want to pay for an expensive clone.