Here is my friend's response
My friend's response...
Your man's VIN is incorrect - there's no such prefix as XL291N. The closest visually is XL2S1N (could be couldn't it?) which was used on:
Mini 1000 76-79
Mini 1000 Super 79-80
Mini HL 80-82
Mini HLE 82
Mini Mayfair 82-88
Mini Mayfair Non-Catalyst 88-92
The actual VIN I think is incorrect too. I think '702 5440S' is actually 702544DS, which would have been manufactured somewhere around the start of 1980.
There's no such engine no suffix as 907P (surprise!). The closest is 997, which was the first full A+ specification 998 engine (there were A/A+ hybrid engines for a year or so beforehand). The 997P spec was introduced for the 1980 model year but was gone by 1982 when the high economy 'E' spec engine came in. The 'P' by the way simply stands for closed circuit breathing.
So I reckon your man either has one of the last Mini 1000 Supers built at the start of 1980 or a Mini HL (the normal shaped, up-spec Mini that replaced the Clubman saloon) of the same period.
Hope this helps
Peter W and Peter Taylor
>> MINI 1000. The identification numbers are:Engine: 99H907P 217189 Car: AUSTIN ROVER GROUP, LTD XL 291N 702 5440S <<