Brightwork is the term restorers use for the chrome, stainless steel and polished metal trim that finishes the exterior of the car, bumpers, grille mouldings, door mirrors, bonnet straps, boot handles, T-bars, window finishers and the various decorative trims that distinguish the Classic Mini’s appearance. Together with the badges, it is the visual signature of each Mini variant, a Mini 850, a Cooper, a 1275 GT, a Mayfair, a Cabriolet and a late MPi Cooper are all instantly identifiable from twenty paces by their brightwork and badging combination. Restoring or upgrading these items is the single most visible way to lift the appearance of the car.
Bumpers, Chrome and Stainless Steel
The original chrome bumper assembly was the standard fitment from 1959 through to the late 1980s. Stainless steel bumpers are now the recommended replacement on grounds of corrosion resistance, as the original chrome plating cannot be re-applied to the standard the factory used and modern stainless steel does not pit or rust. Stainless steel bumpers are available in two profiles, the early version with sharp ends and the later version with spooned ends, the latter introduced for pedestrian safety. Black and Nimbus Grey bumper assemblies cover the late 1980s and 1990s painted-bumper specification.
The 1275 GT, Clubman and Special variants used their own front and rear bumper assemblies, and the late painted bumpers for the 1990s body-coloured Coopers and limited editions are available in Nightfire Red, British Racing Green and Caribbean Blue. Overriders, clamps and the full range of nuts, washers and screws complete the bumper fitting hardware.
Grilles and Grille Badges
Grille kits are available in chrome with internal bonnet opener, chrome with external bonnet opener, and Cooper-specific external bonnet opener configurations. The internal versus external bonnet opener distinction matches the grille pressing to your bonnet release mechanism. Grille moulding strips, edge-of-grille surrounds and the per-metre grille edge moulding allow individual grille trim items to be replaced. Grille badges across production cover the Austin Rover logo (1982 to 1984 no script, 1984 to 1985 ‘Austin’, 1986 to 1988 ‘Mini’), the no-logo ‘Mini’ badge from 1988 to 1990, limited edition badges (Jet Black, Red Hot, Paul Smith Citrus Green GB map), and the original Clubman / 1275 GT ‘Mini’ and Leyland-logo grille badges.
Bonnet Badges
Bonnet badges identify each variant and have been re-introduced for restoration even where the original badges went out of production decades ago. Pre-1990 bonnet badges include the silver-on-black ‘Mini’ (1976 to 1979 and 1980 to 1988), the Leyland badge (1979 to 1980) and the plain shield used from 1988.
From 1990 onwards the badge range expanded for the limited editions: ‘Mini’ grey-and-red (1990 to 1996), British Open Classic green, Sidewalk blue, Equinox/Cabriolet purple, Sky and Rose plain shields, chequered flags (Racing/Flame/Checkmate), Mary Quant, Italian Job, Mini 30, Mini 35, Mini 40, Paul Smith and the wings-style ‘Mini Cooper’ and ‘Mini’ self-adhesive badges (1990 to 1996 and 1997-on respectively). The Morris Cooper Mk1 and Cooper Mk2 bonnet badges are available for early Cooper restorations.
Boot Lid Badges
The full range of boot lid badges is available, covering the original ‘Mini 850’, ‘Mini 1000’, ‘Mini Special’ (1979), ‘Mini Clubman’, ‘Mini 1275 GT’, and ‘Automatic’ badges, plus the self-adhesive boot badges from 1980 onwards: ‘Mini’, ‘HL’, ‘HLE’, ‘Mayfair’, ‘Mini Cabriolet’, ‘1.3’ and ‘1.3i’, and the 1997-on wings ‘Mini’ and ‘Mini Cooper’ badges. Limited edition boot badges (Italian Job, Paul Smith, Kensington, Seven 2000, Cooper 2000, Cooper Sport, Knightsbridge, John Cooper) cover the late-production special editions. Boot lid badge clips secure the original clip-on badges to the boot lid pressing.
Door Mirrors and Bonnet Straps
Chrome door mirrors are available in left-hand and right-hand specifications, with separate Cabriolet door mirrors for the 1991 to 1996 Cabriolet (which uses its own header rail and mirror fixing arrangement). The original tan and black leather bonnet straps are reproduced as a pair and provide the classic motorsport look on Cooper, 1275 GT and modified cars. Interior rear-view mirrors include the original three-screw add-on mirror for cars up to 1996 and the later stick-on mirror for the 1997-on MPi cars (which fit the laminated windscreen with the integrated mirror mount). The sidewinding mirror clamp adapts the door mirror mounting to the saloon door.
Boot Handles, T-Bars and Roof Trim
Chrome boot handles are available in standard and 1970-on specifications. T-bars in chrome and chrome with rocker cover post (cover, post and pad) finish the rocker cover area on Cooper and modified engines.