I have the answer for the chassis number with PA stamped under it.

Bare shells that were sent to Parts and Accessories (first located in the Zetland plant and later moving out to Morebank, in 1968) had PA stamped on the body shell, under or next to where the chassis number would usually be stamped. These were usually sold to repairers, sometimes privately, to rebody badly damaged vehicles. The bodies were then usually stamped with the number from the original car, and I would assume the ID plate attached. In theory - 40 years down the track, if a crashed shell had not been disposed of, and somebody got hold of it and restored it, then it is possible (though hopefully not likely) that there could be two cars with the same chassis numbers.

If a car has a Cooper S chassis number and PA stamped on it, it could still be a genuine Cooper S shell, but it would just have been a replacement shell. I would assume they had replacement shells available for all models, but the Cooper S would be most likely due to the cost.

Cheers,
Watto.

Well done watto , another mystery solved .

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Now that's a scoop!

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

This explains why we have so many "Genuine Cooper Ss" heaps more than there wes ever produces and they are all Genuine. I am sure that they made replacement engines too which completed the the whole project. Re stamping is easily done. I am sure they made replacement ID plates too unless some left the factory out the back door.

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

Watto - sorry for the hijack but I am having trouble getting the ME in the Sydney area. Have tried several newsagents in Sydney and the Central Coast and none have seen the latest edition.

Yes - I will have to subscribe!

Regards

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

Just re-posting here from the other thread.


It seems that all the Minis I know of which have PA stamped on them are very early ones - within the first 10 to 15 shells.

I was speaking to our club historian about this last weekend and he seems to think it may stand for 'Production Automobile'.

Apparently these cars were sent down the line to test the manufacture process along the assebly line when a new model was introduced.

Holden used the same PA stamped on there early test models. The cars were purely to test the assembly line and never meant for sale to the public. Holden destroyed their vehicles but it seems as though BMC/Leyland's cars hung around and managed to find their way in to the public.

This information may not be true fact but it does sound feasible.

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Julie.............

Thanks for sharing, and nice work watto,

Good to finally know what that means.

Cheers.

Hmmnnn... the car I have seen with the PA prefix on it has very original looking 'factory' style fonts for the numbers on the bulkhead.

If the shells were factory replacements, wouldn't they have to be stamped at a dealer, or smash repairer?

Anywhooo..... all info is good info! Thanks Watto and Kyoda the more aware we all are of these things the more info. will come out!

Cheers! Graham

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

My mate Steve has a Mini K that was reshelled when 12 months old, and the body number on the shroud and rego is the shell part number...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

So his body number is SHELL02?

Um NO, it's a real BMC p/no, not the made-up aftermarket ones...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

and here i am thinking watto got a personal assistant

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busier than a 0ne legged man in a butt kicking competion

Now the question is did the PA shells have the body number in sequence with the rest of the cars or if they were given a separate sequence of body numbers?

Bodyshell part numbers from lots of different BMC/Leyland Australia books...

Morris 850 HYA2856
Morris Mini Deluxe HYA2856
Morris Cooper S HYA3801
Morris 850 Van HYA3308
Morris Mini Van HYA3308
Morris Mini Moke (10") ALA7357

Morris Mini Deluxe (from car 32800) HYA3822
Morris Cooper S (to car 4028) HYA3309 (notice that this contradicts the earlier listing)
Morris Cooper S (from car 4029) HYA3823
Morris Mini Van (to body 6051) HYA3308
Morris Mini Van (from body 6052) HYK1383

Mini Van HYK2386
MiniMatic HYB1441

Mini 1100 HYB3516
Clubman HYB5317
Clubman GT HYB3518

Morris 1100 HYA7151
Morris 1300/1500 HYA8194
Morris Nomad HYB2286

Austin 1800 Mk1 CZD867

MGB AHH7481
MGB AHH7482
MG Midget AHA8011
MG Midget AHA8503
Sprite Mk3 AHA7190

Morris Marina HYB6221
Morris Marina Coupe HYB6198

Austin Kimberley HYC100
Austin Tasman HYC100

This gives an idea of what bodyshells were held in stock at Parts and Accessories.

My bet is none had a factory body number.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.