Looks like you got yourself a sweet little Mini. You're in for an adventure. Re: The white gunk on the oil filler cap. That's water in the oil. Could be just condensation from sitting. An oil & filter change will take care of that. On the other hand, it could be a blown head gasket. A compression test will tell you. Replacing the head gasket isn't a big deal. Just follow the instructions in your Haynes manual and check YouTube. Lots of Mini head gasket videos available. Enjoy!

They didn't need to - the Mini was still in production in 2000 and you could buy a shell from Rover.

This is obviously a re-VIN though.

real simple RE VIN.. 

What is the date on that receipt for the shell? Heritage was certainly not making or selling shells in the early 2000's...for injection cars that had only been out since 93. 

 

Although the Mini "looks" the same throughout the years, there are many, MANY changes that were made from its birth in '59, to the last in 2000. I own 2 later, injection Minis and real 66 998 Cooper and have worked extensively on a 1972 and 1976 Mini. You can not just bolt all the injection parts onto an older shell. The tanks are different, the way the fuel is routed is different, bulkhead, inner fender, fenders themselves, subframes, brackets for relays, holders for wiring, and a million other tiny details I am not going to list out. Not to mention the block, head, gearbox, engine steadies, brake booster, evap system, wing mounted fan...I guess I went on.

 

It is very clear from the pictures that you have a genuine, 98 (I dont know this models specifics), German market Blue Star. Its a great looking car and you should be happy. Its certainly not a 1969 but even if what the seller told you was completely true, literally the ONLY part that I can see that is on this car that was on a 69 is the VIN plate. Look, this was a very popular way to get modern classic Minis into this country and helped expand the community. Personally, as long as you know and understand what you have, the more the merrier. 

The slam panel is the horizontal panel above the grill that the bonnet (hood) closes and latches to. The small metal plate Dr. Mini referred to is a VIN tag.

Yes new everything, I don't know what you mean by slam panel? 
Cheers
Tim

Does your receipt also have a new front subframe? A 1969 subframe wouldn't work with that new bodyshell. New body, new engine, new subframes, new wheels and tires...so tell me what part from 69 is still on your "tribute" car? Let me help...it's the small plate on the slam panel! ??

Prior owner has a receipt showing the Heritage body installation.  They are no serial numbers on the sill above the engine compartment.

Hear, hear!

Dr mini..  yep.. a RE VIN.. what is that old Delbert McClinton song..? I will NOT lie to you . might I might mis lead you..  later PHD..

You can call it a tribute car if you want, but the bottom line is that car is a Re-VIN. The only thing "rehung" was the VIN plate off of a 1969 Mini. Good luck with that, but you were lied to.

Banks Garage.. aka Mark Nolan..  man oh man.. did he have great promo back in the day.  3 in a box.. 3 entry level classic minis in a container. and dirt cheap.. I know the Late Big Al Guest.. sold him that old BMC motor home and shipping it back to england..  Later PHD.

The condition of the oil filler cap would worry me.    It looks like there's water in the oil.

The aluminum brake drums are an after market part called MiniFins.

Hi, after researching and speaking again with the prior owner, I'm convinced that it is a Blue Star Tribute.  Apparently done by Banks Garage(UK) in 2000. They found a 1969 , rehung a Heritage body, with a 1300 SPi and the proper Blue Star decals with a German decal on the gas tank.

It was sitting several years, not driven. I'm going thru the systems, changed the oil and filter, flushing the radiator( can not get the old plug to seal), and the brakes.  Found the right rear drum frozen and the right front not clamping, lot's of challenges for a first time Mimi owner in his 70's.

Don't like the looks of the crud on the oil filler, hopefully just from sitting so long.

Photos here:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/n56gDf236ke6Yu1K7

Thanks for the help
Cheers
Tim

psst.. all you have to do is check the confidential vin number in the rain  gutter.  to see it is NOT a 1969 mini..  Later PHD.ps I remember seeing a Blue Star in person at Spring Thing. about 1999..  pretty thang..

Hi Tim , I guess you can google as well as me .. (probably better:)..

So Blue Star = '98 model German market special, 500 of, Tahitian Blue, wood dash, Mpi...

You mention an isolator so FI of some sort so not 72.... Now you go down the rabbit hole of production changes.... If all the IDs have gone (there are glossaries on the tech info section of this site) you'll have to check off the physical attributes of your car with the various lists of production changes to be found on various web sites...

Never forget that Minis are pretty much the Mr Potatoe Head of cars with bits being interchangeable across almost 50 years. You don't need the "right" bit, rather a part that will fit and do the job.

Cheers, Ian

Thanks for the reply. I understand that Blue Star version were only sold in Germany.  Five hundred were made. I'm guessing that this car is a "tribute" to those models.  Not sure which injection system it has, will try to determine that this weekend. Got it started a few days ago with a new battery, the immoblizer is also somewhat of a mystery to me, but it did work.

1963/Dr Jing..  yup re VIN   think the blue stars were all LHD and for the  German market.. `1996 or june 1998. seen both dates from google.com ?/  would it have been SPI.or MPI?. MPI would have radiator in the front on UK / EU models..  you can use new shell. and keep the old vin number in the UK.. it is called Radical rebuilts.. think you have to have 8 points to retain.. the old vin number.. new shell is 5 points.. they you have to used. used brakes.. used engine..and used tranny.. 1 point each to reach the 8 point.. goal.. Alex. can fill you in on this.. quite the job with DVLA also to do this in the past..  Later PHD.. ps  500 made..

I'll say what 1963SV3 is trying to be discrete about:  Sounds like the part of the body that was rehung was the VIN tag.  They threw in the 1972 part to explain the reason for roll up windows and internal hinges on the doors.

The Blue Stars, if I remember rightly, were nice cars.  Blue body, blue-ish tinted windows, and cream colored interiors.