Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, hoping this is in the right forum, I'm restoring/modifying a series II 4 dr saloon in New Zealand, and am trying to work out it's age. I have the NMP pressed plate number which is Z.12238/9 (the 3 is possibly a 5), and the number on the small tag high up on the passenger side of the bulkhead is BMF18263. Those are the only numbers I have, the other bulkhead plate is missing - the car was a paddock rescue (no engine or gearbox so no numbers from those either). I would assume it was sent out as a CKD vehicle and assembled locally but it would be good if possible for re-registration purposes to be able to date it to a year. If anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated.

I have an October 1953 4 door body number Z14821 - R 3***7 and BMF 39268. My rough guess at age is April 1953 built.
Chris at POMMReg on here is your man! PM him, he should be able to help.

Thanks, I'll give that a go

Hi you could also contact Stephen Gordon at the Series II Register http://www.series2.mmoc.org.ukand use the contact page.

SMM 138*** I think(?) 2/52

Will have to double check.

thanks pomm reg,but not quite sure what you mean by SMM 138***, is that linked to the number I put up somehow ?

Number should be stamped into the firewall (138***) near the bonnet pull pressing thingy. NZ CKD - for one reason or another - never had stamped in vins.

SMM138*** is part of a series of 918cc sidevalve minor MM model chassis numbers used until 1952.
Do you know if it was a sidevalve 918cc engine fitted in your car, or an early 803cc overhead valve engine? Any clues?
There is a MM chassis list in the MM section register of this site.

sorry no idea what motor it would have had with it - no motor or gearbox when i got it. Also, any stamped numbers in the firewall are either absent or have been removed by firewall mods for master cylinder and pedal box. The numbers i gave are the only ones i could find

Is the front x-member (beneath the battery box) straight, or with a curve in the middle?

Check the glass dates, narrow build date by year quarter.

Some exports had the Vin stamped into the front x-member behind osf shock absorber, but think this is a little late for this.

front x member is straight, but cant find anything on any of the glass. Please could you explain what the NMP numbers actually represent - ?

Is the NMP plate screwed to the x-member - should also have a number opposite the "Z" prefixed bodyshell code - total number prefixed by an "R".

Can figure out approx build year by the first digits of the cab/bodyshell code.

Google Triplex glass dating, positioning of dots above and below glass type - quarter year date.

thanks for your help. The other number on the NMP plate is hard to distinguish but looks like R18283. The glass markings were easier to find once you'd told me what to look for....the rear and front screens and one of the windows were dated 1st quarter of 52, and three others dated 2nd quarter of 51. Were there date differences in the chromed centre console - i see that some had an ashtray in the centre and others didn't - mine didn't.