Is florence a transitional '62?

[tunnyx]

Hi all - having been given a recent copy of Minor Matters I read an article describing transitional 1962 1098cc cars. We bought florence in a bit of a state, originally blue but now red, she's a '62 1098cc with all pull switches. We're not sure about the clap hand wipers as they currently don't work and one of the glove boxes has a door, although this could have been added later?

Aside from these signs, is there any sure fire way of telling whether it's a transitional or not? I've been trying to convince him that originality is good so if it is a transitional I think I'll be able to convince him to not mess with it too much.

Any advice appreciated.

Mark

[jagnut66]

Hi Mark,
Does she have a 'duo-tone interior? (ie: an off white centre panel with coloured leatherette edge panelling - colour depending on your colour scheme - on both doors and seats)
The clap hands wipers and pull starter are a start. Also does it have the older three spoked steering wheel?
Finally, they also had heaters (the round 'Smiths' type).
I don't think they had glove box lids, though, as you say, one may have been added later for practicality.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[bmcecosse]

A 62 car would not have a 1098 engine originally. Does it have 8" front drums?

[jagnut66]

A 62 car would not have a 1098 engine originally. Does it have 8" front drums?

Not even a late one?

[mike.perry]

See my comments under "Dual Personality"

[tunnyx]

Curiouser and curiouser

See attached photo - she doesn't have duo tone interior, but I read that this was only present on the delux model (no badging to indicate she's a delux though).

Like I say, not sure if she's got clap hand wipers (wiring still needs some work) - steering wheel is a two spoke number, but again, relatively easily changed (although not sure why someone would've 'downgraded' the steering wheel.

She does have the round type heater. Based on the centre console it looks like she 'should have' panels on the dashboard. Perhaps that's a clue that she definitely isn't a transitional model?

According to the article, the 1098 transitional runs from September 1962 until October 1963?

Mark[frame][/frame]

[jagnut66]

I don't think that '62 models had a metal surround piece to the speedo / switches or that type of steering wheel. I would suggest that she has been 'updated' by a previous owner.
I'm sure I've been told in the past that the glove-boxes of this period would have been open fronted.
By that I mean that they would have had a surround to the front with an insert but no lid. These would have fitted into the holes that you have been left with.
But I'm open to correction on this.
The interior has probably been changed as well at some point due to wear and tear.
Looking at what you have there it would be easy to put it back as it would have been and I'm sure someone on here will have some reference pictures for you should you wish to do so.
The Chassis plate may also provide some clues as to the specification, someone on here will be able to 'translate' it for you.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[Alex'n'Ane]

You can see by looking at the position of the wipers if they are clap hand or not.. Also, the sunvisors, are they bolted straight to the top of metal windscreen frame, or mounted in the corner, so that you cna pivot them round like in a modern car to cover the side window too?

[tunnyx]

You can see by looking at the position of the wipers if they are clap hand or not.. Also, the sunvisors, are they bolted straight to the top of metal windscreen frame, or mounted in the corner, so that you cna pivot them round like in a modern car to cover the side window too?

Sunvisors appear to be bolted straight to the top of the windscreen frame and the wipers are set at the edge of both sides of the scuttle, so clap hand they are!

Does this mean she's a transitional?

[Alex'n'Ane]

Does this mean she's a transitional?

I really dont get this whole 'transitional thing' probably nearly half of all minors were a mixture of whatever they had lying around at the time in the factory, a combination of different stages, and interior/exterior/engine mods they bought it at any given time. Unlike modern cars they didn't necessarily just do a load of changes at once.. And owners later on then just fitted bits they preferred, or whatever they had lying around. Thats before we even get to the number of cars registered wrongly for whatever reason...
But no, the centre speedo surround doesnt match those visors, or wipers. Either full new dash, or someone has filed down the ridge usually around the key hole.

[orb596]

We have an October 1962 2 door. It still has its original 1098 engine. Fitted with clap hand wipers, pull type switches, 3 spoke steering wheel, round Smiths heater, open glove boxes and white indicators at the front with red at the back. Also has a bronze dialled 90 mph speedo. Originally fitted with the red and white duo tone interior. This has been in our family for the past 23 years.

[Matt]

I wrote this yesterday but I lost it due to internet crash...

I have a convertable registered in Early Jan '64, so would be a late '63 build car.

It has:

Red & White Duotone interior
1098 engine
Bronze speedo
Pull Switches
Plain dash (i.e. not the silver speedo surround)
Pull Start
Conventional Wipers
3 Spoke Steering wheel
Square (late) Heater
Earlier style sun visors
No glovebox lid

[LouiseM]

Here's a link to the new 'dual personality' Minor Register website which explains how to identify a transitional car: http://dpminors.wordpress.com/

[naxtell]

The best place to start off any investigation into whether a Minor is a "Dual Personality" one is the chassis number, then start looking for any "identifying features". As Louise said there is a quite extensive "Spotters Guide" on the new Dual Personality Minors register website. However, by way of a very quick intro the Dual Personality Minors now cover cars built from September 1962 until October 1964 and these are sub-divided into 2 phases. We've extended the age range based on the information we've received after the first few articles in Minor Matters.

Neil