How to find out if factory convert

[dubman1959]

Hi there,
Can someone please tell me what would be written on an ID tag under the bonnet of a 1950 convertible,.Just so i know its a factory vert or a 2 door been converted. Thanks Steve.

[geoberni]

I'm not sure that there was anything for MM cars. See this page http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Identify.htm

If you really want to know perhaps you could try getting the factory build records or heritage certificate ?
https://britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archiv ... rtificates

[Shropshiremoggie]

Would the government registration site help ? I assume ( dangerous ) that it would be recorded due to a major change .

[liammonty]

There are I believe several ways to identify an original convertible from a saloon that’s been converted - these are to do with how it was manufactured rather than chassis or body numbers. I’m no expert on this, but there are a few who are. These are features other than numbers on the ‘ID tag’ - I’m guessing you’re referring to the chassis plate or body number? You shouldn’t need to pay for a heritage certificate! In any case, that’s only going to tell you the identity of the chassis number attached to the car!

[RobThomas]

Look inside the boot where the old roof would have been welded beneath where the wood now lies. Is it flat with screw holes in or does it look like loads of spot welds have been drilled out?

[firedrake1942]

Is the same not true of the strengthening pieces by the A and B posts. spot welds if genuine and continuous if converted ?

[dubman1959]

Thank you all very much for your input, Really good of you all, Cheers Steve

[Budgie]

Look for spot welds as opposed to tag, running welds under the dash by the" A" post. If spot welds are present then it's a genuine tourer as this is the strenghting parts of the tourer running from under the dash to the "A" post. Also another easy one is to see if there are any interior light switches on the "A" post. If so then it's not a genuine tourer as for obvious reasons, there are no interior lights on a convertible.

[irmscher]

I have an original convertible all the right numbers and heritage certificate and mine has a light switch .I did a lot of searching and apparently they used whatever shell they could get there hands on when demand was there.

[ManyMinors]

Convertibles were always built using convertible body shells. Convertible body shells used the same door pillar as a saloon, therefore once the switch became a standard fitting (around 1959) every shell had the hole for mounting the switch. Saloons were fitted with the switch and convertibles received a rubber grommet. Many convertible owners later removed the grommet, screwed a switch in and fitted an interior light (usually under the dashboard) for convenience .
Morris never made convertibles out of saloons. For a start it would be impossible to install the extra strengthening which is INSIDE the sill box section. IF it was possible they would have to do all that extra work and then sell the car for the same price as a saloon as BOTH had the same retail price. It would make no sense would it......

[firedrake1942]

true dat!!!!

[SteveClem]

That's what I've always thought, but would be interested to hear more from Lee about his car.

[Budgie]

I have an original convertible all the right numbers and heritage certificate and mine has a light switch .I did a lot of searching and apparently they used whatever shell they could get there hands on when demand was there.

Well you learn something every day for sure !

[liammonty]

I have an original convertible all the right numbers and heritage certificate and mine has a light switch .I did a lot of searching and apparently they used whatever shell they could get there hands on when demand was there.

Well you learn something every day for sure !

Except according to the reply it’s not correct

[irmscher]

The heritage certificate matches up to all the numbers or I would not of bought it and its definitely not a converted saloon

[liammonty]

No - that's not what I meant! Nobody has suggested your car isn't a genuine convertible!

ManyMinors said that from around 1959, the hole was present for the mounting of the switch, but had a grommet in it in the case of convertibles BUT that all convertibles were built as convertibles, not from whatever shell was around. So then a lot of owners were able to fit a light switch if they wanted to. The point was that after that date, they all had the hole in the door pillar, as the convertible shells used the same door pillar as the saloons...

Wasn't there a loooooonnnnnnnngggggggg thread on this a few years ago?!

[ManyMinors]

Exactly. And to demonstrate: Here is a photo taken of a genuine 1960s convertible still exactly to the original specification, showing the rubber grommet plugging the hole where the light switch would be on a saloon.
I have heard (many times) the misleading tale that you can tell an original convertible by the absence of this hole but that is incorrect.
Funnily enough, I have been told several times that my own convertible - which IS a later conversion - is an original convertible because it doesn't have these holes. The reason being that it was built in 1958, prior to the switches being installed.

[Mark Wilson]

Wasn't there a loooooonnnnnnnngggggggg thread on this a few years ago?!

Noooooooooooo - don't even think about resurrecting the LBM debate.....

[POMMReg]

Wasn't there a loooooonnnnnnnngggggggg thread on this a few years ago?!

Noooooooooooo - don't even think about resurrecting the LBM debate.....

Zzzzzzzzzz....

[IaininTenbury]

Feeling under the rear parcel shelf area for spot weld bumps v screw holes is the only sure fire way of telling a genuine convertible as Rob T said. It's relatively easy to weld in the stiffening pieces to look like original ones or even make b post brackets that look like originals (ones in the kits don't).....