South Africa produced the Mini in an interesting variety of body combinations not seen elsewhere…
These included the Wolseley 1000, the Mini K and a strange Mini MK3 – a cross between a Riley Elf and standard Mini.
Wolseley 1000
The Wolseley 1000 was South Africa’s first mix-and-match Mini, mating the glitzy Wolseley front end – complete with the obligatory illuminated grille badge – to the standard Mini bodyshell. Well, almost standard – as can be seen in the above brochure image, the door featured ADO16-like opening quarterlights and wind-down windows, thanks to engineering input from BMC Australia.
As the name implies, the Wolseley 1000 was powered by the 998cc version of the familiar A-Series engine, and it also benefitted from Hydrolastic suspension. Inside, the dashboard featured extra padding and a centrally-mounted three-dial instrument pod, housing a speedometer flanked by gauges for water temperature and oil pressure, plus a small group of warning lights.
Sales began in September 1967, with a Mk2 version appearing in December 1968, featuring refinements similar to those introduced on the UK’s Mk2 Minis. However, in the latter half of 1969, Leyland South Africa (or Leykor) implemented a product rationalisation programme which mirrored what was happening within the recently-formed BLMC back in the UK.
As a result of this, the Wolseley 1000 was axed in August of that year, along with the locally-produced Cooper S. It is thought that only around 450 Wolseley 1000s were built in total.
Other Minis
The so-called Mini MK3 appeared in September 1969, effectively replacing the Wolseley 1000. In styling terms, it seems that the thinking behind the earlier car was simply reversed to produce a booted version of the standard-fronted Mini.
Presumably the intention was to combine a more modern appearance with greater luggage capacity, but whatever the reason, the resulting car can’t help but look decidedly odd to anyone familiar only with the standard European versions of the car. During the 1970s, Leykor (later Leyland South Africa) also produced standard-bodied Minis with either the rounded Mk3-style or the square-set Clubman front ends.
- The converters : Crayford Engineering TR7 Tracer - 27 March 2023
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Does anyone have info on the 1976/1977 mini hatchback proposal from the Blackheath Styling Department in Mini: The Definitive History?
Looking to buy a good clean 1275 e mini , please mail me
Hi Keith,
Did South Africa make or import the original body Mini, or were they all hybrids of other [later] Mini bodies? I also have seen 2 published sources saying that the early adoption of windup windows in Oz, led Australia to export their wind-up window doors to SA long before supply was be obtained over seas. True or false?
I ask because I am writing about racing classic Mini under strict FIA regs today– & racers need a series one [1959-67] outline…
Thanks for you time, JW
The Wolseley 1000 looks a bit like the prototype Minis producted with A35 front grilles.
Most of the 1275E cars had a thick stripe and a thin stripe as shown here: http://www.miniregister.com/images/200611023.jpg
The gold one I owned went exceptionally well. Where are you NPN91249?
There were also variants on the E theme. The Rebel had a sunroof and rear window louvres. The HLE had a wooden dash if I recall cirrectly.
I wonder why no one ever tried the Clubman front with the Elf tail? …. nicely balanced proportions
I wonder if anyone ever considered the Clubman front with the Elf tail …. nicely proportioned car methinks
We should knock one up as a Photoshop 🙂
One of the books on the history of the Mini has a picture of a mock up with a Clubman front with the Hornet tail.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=xg1AzJKwzhHbYM&tbnid=JLfPHcjuhsCkhM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theminiforum.co.uk%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F135611-clubby-elf%2Fpage-2&ei=cd-EU86XBJe0yASouYDYDQ&psig=AFQjCNGEqbwP7gS36DOMFhmhvHq8RW8A9w&ust=1401303281145281
here what do you think ?found this online
I am trying to trace the history of my Morris Mini Minor MK1, M/A2S4, Number 138879.
The car was assembled by Morris Motors SA (PTY) Ltd in Blackheath, South Africa, Body Number: 2402, Engine number: 8AM U H400398. I am the process of restoring the car to original and would like to know what the colour should be. The interior panels look original and are Cream and Red
Did the radiator grille badge on the Wolseley 1000 have – as on ‘real’ Wolseleys – a light bulb to illuminate it from inside? I recall, as a 1940s child, being amused by this simple bit of instant brand identification – at night time; “Hey Dad/Mum. That’s a Wolseley.” “Clever boy!” Occasionally one sees a police Wolseley at night in old black and white crime films.
How’s about a woody Countryman with an Elf/Hornet nose?
I never noticed before, but now I found something odd on my 67 Cooper “S”. The body-plate has the Afrikaans word spelled in English. “BMC SUID AFRICA” instead of AFRIKA. Who made these? The plate is also slightly bigger than the English plate. Is this correct or not.?
We had a friend who went dow to South Africa from Rhodesia to collect a brand new brick red Mini clubman estate…. aprox 73/74 date time…and drove the car up with two small children…. anyone have any info on these cars?
The Mini was around for some time before 1967 – we bought our first one in Zambia in June 1961 ( assembled in Umtali Rhodesia) but our first South African one was a red with white roof Austin bought in April 1965. Just to clear up a bit of confusion.
The SA BMC cars did have weird body plates, The plates were made locally, complete with incorrect spelling of South Africa!!