Quiz: Why is this panel different?

[BruceK]

As the title says, why is this Mini windshield scuttle panel different?    (Once someone pops up with the correct answer, I'll share some news)

[Willie_B]

Chopped top, windshield slanted back further so had to move the wiper base?

[MiniDave]

Interesting little extra pressing in the scuttle panel.......

[Tim]

Mini Cord possibly?  Fiberglass Mini?

[Nicholasupton]

Australian mini, this was done to keep a percentage of parts made in country

[BruceK]

Australian mini, this was done to keep a percentage of parts made in country

Bingo!!  We have a winner.   It the standard production steel scuttle panel on an Australian Mk. I Mini.

I took the photos this afternoon.

Although people from all over the world visit the Bring a Trailer website to look at and comment on the cars for sale being featured there, somehow it became apparent that 3 of the commenters looking a Mini on that site all lived within the same 7 mile radius here in the DFW area.  So I arranged to meet up with one of them, a great guy (and his wife) who own a 1965 Mini from Oz who lives about 15 minutes from me. 

I also invited them to join us here on this site, and I hope they do.  Since they'd probably want to talk about their own car, I'll leave it to them to tell the story of their car. 

But in the meantime, I'll just post some photos of it.