Australian
Limited Edition Mini's
Limited Edition Mini's (and even
Limited Edition's of any car) were first conceived by BMC
Australia Pty. Ltd., of Enfield, New South Wales. Indeed many of
the innovative features which eventually found their way onto UK
cars were first used on export or non-UK built Mini's, as you
will see below:
- March 1969 Morris Mini
1100K (Kangaroo) - Unknown number of cars
produced. This was the first Australian Mk2 Mini,
although it was really more like our MK1. 1098cc engine (50bhp),
dished padded steering wheel with 'BMC' centre logo,
three dial central instruments, alternator, and for the
first time in Australian Mini's an all synchro gearbox
with standard 998 differential (3.765:1). Drum brakes all
round, optional heater (!) and the Mk1 Mini derived
Australian doors with outside hinges, wind-up windows (with
similar internal door/winders handles to those used on
the UK Mk3 Riley Elf/Wolselsey Hornet). Mk2 style plain
bumpers (no overriders/corner bars), Mk1 Morris Cooper
grille & moustache, Mk2 round Morris bonnet badge, Mk1-style
bootlid with fold-down number plate (smaller than UK type),
and Mk1 rear lights. Named 'Kangaroo' in the spirit of
the Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda. Sold a number of
colours, including White, Aubergine (described as "dusky
mulberry") and Portofino Gold (strong yellow/orange).
Upholstery colours included Champagne (beige) and Black.
Badged as a 'Morris Mini 1100' (with three separate
badges) on boot only. Sold for $1780 (Australian dollars)
when a Holden HK (Aussie Vauxhall Viva) cost $2300 and a
Toyota Corolla cost $1720.
- September 1971-Late
1972 Leyland Mini Clubman GT - Limited run of no
more than 1000 cars. As UK Mini 1275 GT, but with the
following differences - Mk1 Mini derived Australian doors
with outside hinges, wind-up windows and flush chrome 'lift-up'
door handles. 1275cc Cooper 'S' engine (78bhp), twin 11/4
SU's, unique narrow fibreglass wheel arch flares (similar
in appearance to the Special Tuning 'Group 2' fibreglass
arches used on works rally cars, but a bit narrower and
properly designed to fit the front of a Clubman!). Cooper
'S' Mk2 specification hydrolastic suspension and twin
petrol tanks. Mk1-style bootlid with fold-down number
plate (smaller than UK type) and Mk1 boot handle/lock,
and for the first time, head restraints on front seats.
1275GT style instruments. Badged as 'Clubman GT' on boot,
with UK style 'GT' badge on front grille and side stripes.
Sold for $2502.
- 1976 Leyland Mini SS
- Limited Edition of 500 cars. UK sourced 998cc engine (40bhp)
or 1098cc engine (50bhp) on automatics. Based on
Australian 'standard' Mini S (similar specification to UK
Clubman), still with the Mk1 Mini derived Australian
doors with outside hinges, wind-up windows and flush
chrome 'lift-up' door handles but with higher standard of
equipment, boasting a twin speaker stereo sound system,
1275GT style instruments, 5"x10" alloy road
wheels as standard, and with the narrow fibreglass wheel
arch flares. First Australian Limited Edition to revert
back to rubber suspension. Sold for $3895.
- March 1977 Leyland
Mini LS - Limited Edition of 1000 cars. UK
sourced 998cc engine (40bhp) or 1098cc engine (50bhp) on
automatics. Based on the Mini SS (so Clubman bodyshell
again with the Mk1 Mini derived Australian doors with
outside hinges, wind-up windows and flush chrome 'lift-up'
door handles), it had 17 new standard features ranging
from a stereo radio/cassette player to metallic paint and
5"x10" 'mag' wheels. Sold for $4495.
- October 1977 Leyland
Mini Sunshine - Unknown number of cars produced.
998cc engine (40bhp) again. Sunshine roof and tinted
windows. Sold for $4395, when a Honda Civic cost $4226,
an Alfa Romeo Alfasud a staggering $6650 (which must have
made the Honda Civic look a real bargain!), and the
Holden HX $5614.
- August 1978 Leyland
Mini 1275 LS - Fewer than 1000 cars made and the
last Australian Limited Edition Mini, and the last Mini
produced in Australia - all Mini production (with the
exception of the Mini Moke) ended in October 1978. 1275cc
engine (55bhp), Clubman bodyshell (still with the Mk1
Mini derived Australian doors with outside hinges, wind-up
windows and flush chrome 'lift-up' door handles), 1275GT
style instruments, Cooper 'S'/1275GT spec 7.5" front
disc brakes (rather than the 8" discs used on the 12"
wheel 1275GT here), 4.5"x12" steel wheels,
separate 'L' & 'S' front grille badges on unique
front grille incorporating integral rectagular driving
lights in rectangular grille cut-outs, unique body side
stripes running from just below where the wing/A-panel
body seam ends (i.e. just below the middle of the door
skin) to the rear wheel arch (similar in style to UK 1275GT
stripes but with 1275 LS on the rear panel instead of the
door and flaring out at the bottom to meet the rear wheel
arch). Sold for $4760.
Last modified: Mar 05, 2003
By: Andrew Murray
webmaster@minilimitededitions.cjb.net