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Deluxe model?

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:25 am
by polo2k
Hi all,
Was there ever a "dulux version" of the minor, I seem to remember someone tellignme that there were certain features that made up a higher trim level, from recollection they were, 2 outer mirrors, a heater, and stainless kick panels.
Its the last one thast interests me, at the moment they are painted btu does anyone have a picture of them polished, Im a bit worried that it will look garish.

-Ash-

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:41 am
by wibble_puppy
hi, ash,

yes there was a deluxe spec, someone on here will know all about it.

as far as the stainless kick plates are concerned, they seem to be a matter of taste but pretty popular - IMO they look smart and fit in well with the chrome bits of the car, it's not like they glow neon pink or anything.

dunno if that helps!

wibble xx 8)

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:45 pm
by DaveC
hi Ash
I have read that overriders on the bumpers denotes that it the car is a 'deluxe' model. I am not sure what other features ther were though..
Cheers
Dave :)

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:13 pm
by bpr81a
a 'D' in the chassis number indicates de-luxe
specification varied from year to year

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:48 pm
by Lou
Ash trays were a deluxe feature, I think...

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:58 pm
by aupickup
my 2 door is original and a deluxe version
mine had painted kick plates from new, oh it is a 1969 version
no rear ashtray was ever fitted to mine
plain black interior

has D in the chassis number

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:00 pm
by ASL642
I think the ashtrays referred to are the ones under the dashboard. My first Minor was a de luxe and had 2 ashtrays at the front and one on the transmission tunnel which everyone knocked off when getting into the back! :D

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:29 pm
by Gareth
A heater was part of the spec as was, at one time, the passenger sun visor.

You could do worse than search this site - there's an answer to the deluxe spec issue somewhere.

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:03 pm
by Sidney'61
I think the deluxe ones had leather seats whereas the standard ones were vinyl. Also I think the deluxe minors after 1961 had windscreen washers.
My 61 minor is a deluxe model, I think the heater, overriders and the leather seats (not there any more) were all deluxe options.

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:38 pm
by aupickup
mines original 69 and got vinyl seat covers :(
push for washer bottle water :(

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:45 pm
by ASL642
Having been to the heritage Centre a gone through all the trim sheets it seems that the de luxe specification varied from year to year.

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:52 pm
by aupickup
thank you

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:56 pm
by LouiseM
The deluxe specifications varied during production.

Leather seats were only a deluxe option up to 1961 when the Duotone upholstery was introduced. This was replaced by the standard vinyl trim in 1964, regardless of whether the car was deluxe or not.

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:57 pm
by d_harris
Polo2k. I wasn't aware that stainless kick panels were ever a feature of the delux cars. I know my 71 trav is a delux and came with painted kick panels.....

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:47 pm
by polo2k
I may have been wrong on that but as stated above, the spec varies from year to year.
Ive checked my chassis number (had it to hand) and theres no "D" but I have a passenger side visor, washers and front and rear bumper over riders.

Who knows, without searching the archives for the spec on a '63 I might never know, Ill have to make do with enjoying the car :D

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:04 am
by ASL642
I can tell you that without the "D" the car wasn't a de luxe. Thats the one thing that did not change in the production books.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:33 am
by Judge
My 1954 Series II still has the paper 'Deluxe' body sticker on the bulkhead in the engine bay :o

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:22 pm
by ASL642
The production books for the Ser II and MM are entered differently.

The Production books for the Minor 1000 (late 56 onwards ) show the "D" in the chassis for De Luxe. There were yearly changes as to what spec you got on the De Luxe though.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:39 pm
by Sidney'61
Mine doesn't have a D on the chassis number but the heritage certificate tells me it's a de luxe model :-?

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:57 pm
by Judge
regaliaqueen wrote:I can tell you that without the "D" the car wasn't a de luxe. Thats the one thing that did not change in the production books.
:-?