When in doubt about speedometers, contact the expert: Nick Rogers of Min-E-Bitz. Nick pegs the speedometer as being used from April '63 through September '64. Those are S build dates, so a car with that speedometer sent to a U.S. BMC dealer could have been sold and registered in early '65.

SN4479/22  1280 is correct for a 3.44 final drive S around the period your S was built, but I haven't been able to pin down the range of build dates that used that speedometer.

 Thank you all for the replies.  Just a few notes and follow ups

• I ordered from a local paint shop, the correct number Cumulus Grey Laquer paint and have in fact painted the switch panel.  It looks very nice.  I was wondering if I could "clear coat"over the top of the laquer to keep the grey more chip resistant.
• The many holes below the binnical on the dash shelf were there when I got the car.  I think they are original as I think there is green paint in the holes.  I will check into this further.
• Parnell on page 29 shows a MKI Cooper S speedo which I think matches mine.  Also the S/N on mine is 4479 which on page 30 states, used on Cooper S MKI so I thing the speedo is original.
• As for the heater control on the left and the choke cable on the right; Parnell states on page 31 "from left to right on RHD cars are heater, wiper, ignition, headlight and choke.  The choke and heater controls are the other way round on LHD cars".

Can I ask what engine was/is in that car? Reason I ask is that I'm looking at a '66 Cooper S with the same speedo, only thing is Parnell's indicates it wouldn't be correct - for the '66 1275. I don't know about the holes but could check my '67 Cooper if need be.

Ron thanks for the reply.  The engine is a 1275 S.  The speedo is original to the car as far as I can tell.

Looking at both of my Mk1. 1275 '66 Cooper'S's they have the spedometer that Parnell says should be there - calibrated to "130 mph", although the top figure is still 120mph, and they both have the amber warning lights at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions.  Parnell also shows the switch carrier in grey with the heater control on the left and the choke cable on the right.

Is that speedo original to the car? Maybe. I think the BMC folks cared very little about the cars about to go to export markets, so an earlier item may have been put in the car when it was built. However, they also can fail, and maybe it was replaced early on with a unit from another car.

The holes might have been for toggle switches or indicator lights for fog/driving lights etc. They might be a bit small for the original toggle switches but smaller single pole/ single throw ones would fit behind the rail and cheaper ones don't require as bit a hole for mounting.

What about the five or so smaller screw-sized holes below the binnacle in the parcel shelf hump? I don't recall anything that would/could be mounted below the shelf - heater in the way.

And the one each side of the hump behind the rail? More to wonder about...

those holes are definately not original.  Not sure why anyone would drill holes there, but must have had a reason.  Like someone said above, fill them in before you put the new vinyl on there or the holes will get poked thru.

Guys he needs to do the switch panel in gray too... correct?  I covered mine in the dash vinyl which came out well though not original.

Can I ask what engine was/is in that car? Reason I ask is that I'm looking at a '66 Cooper S with the same speedo, only thing is Parnell's indicates it wouldn't be correct - for the '66 1275. I don't know about the holes but could check my '67 Cooper if need be.

Ron

They're not original.  I'd fill them in before covering as I'm sure one day the material will be poked in that spot

Not original.

Creative previous owner?

Terry

Hello.
I have a 1965 Austin Cooper S.  I am vinyl recovering the dash, which is not a pleasant job.  I am curious what the two holes in the dash are for?  See arrows.  I have looked thru the many manuals I have and have found nothing.  If anyone had pictures that would be great!  Quite possibly these holes were used for multiple purposes.  Or maybe the previous owner put them in.  They are quite symmetrical about the center so this leads me to believe they are from the factory; LH an RH for something.

Thanks much.

Tim