Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi and thanks for letting me join the group, I'm obviously a newbe so be gental.I have tried to search this topic but not really found the anwers i need, here goes:

My son (he is 16) has bought a 4 door saloon needing quite a lot of work, had no logbook or numberplates, we did check it had a chassis number on bulkhead, have now been told that the number relates to a 2 door saloon;

My question is can anyone on this site provide me with a letter identifing my sons car model date etc and confirm it is a Morris Minnor to send to DVLC with the other required forms

it seems a shame to sell for spares when it could be reregistered

Will post pictures etc when needed

No blame to be attatched to gent we bought car off he was open and honest about lack of plates and logbook

Lots of these cars have 'interesting 'histories,and a strange number is not necessarily an indication of dishonesty. Over the years bits may have been cut out and replaced by other bits from scrap or donor cars. If the car can be restored economically I don't see why you should have to break it for parts.
If you could give an indication of chassis and engine numbers there are experts on here who can give you chapter and verse.
Suggest that you don't go stirring up any hornets nest at the DVLA for the moment!

For security reasons, don't post the whole chassis number here. The first five or six letters/numbers will be a good guide. Year (and maybe also colour) could help as well.

It may have been a mistake to let your son buy this car. Although it may well be restorable, with no documentation and the fact that it needs quite a lot of work, it would make me wonder if it's worth it. You need to be prepared for possible hassle with the authorities, especially if you are right in saying the numbers are for a 2 door and the car is 4 door. Did you or your lad ask the seller for any reason as to why the vehicle was lacking its identity?

Thank s for replys so far, the car had stacks of bits n pieces with it and a smooth running engine and gearbox which will return my sons's investment if needed.

We had checked about re registering with a new "old" style registration. My son is starting his apprentiship and wanted a project and loves Minors so no real loss.

Would be nice to put back on road and as stated DVLC have a system in which this is possible if not long winded, but needs a recognised expert from an owners club to verify make model etc.

chassis plate says m/a2s3 870***

and has BME 350885
also long thin plate with 228706 353578

also how do i post pictures?

Chassis number is definitely 2-door saloon. Originally 948cc (although no surprise if that's changed over the years). Build date circa early/mid 1960.
Some Minors but not all ages had the chassis number stamped in the front floorpan somewhere. If the floors have been replaced you'll probably have lost them but worth a look. You'll probably be looking for a number beginning MAS3 or MAS5.

With the info you currently have, you may be able to get the car registered but the V5 won't actually relate to your car, just to the car which originally had your chassis number. Not sure of a legitimate, simple and non-costly way forward.

Posting pics (from android device): At the bottom of the message box you type a new post in, go to 'Attachments' then down to 'Add files'. Then select a picture file (Jpeg is best. 5mb max. Less if possible so you may need to resize before selecting) from your device gallery. Wait for it to load (green line and green tick should appear). Then select 'Place in Line'. Repeat for additional pics (max 5 per post). Select 'Submit' when done.

The long thin plate will start with a Z not a 2 so Z28706 then 353578 the latter number is earlier Series 3 (1956-62/3) but Chris (Pommreg) will be able to decode it further. They should be reproduced on the NMP plate on the NS tie plate by the radiator if it has nit rotted away.

One of our local branch members has an early MM NMP pate on the car. It has holes in in each corner but the car is a later S2 Convertible, the plate bears no relation to the thin strip, possible bogusness but more likely to have occurred in an earlier 'restoration'.

palacebear wrote: ↑Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:56 pm Some Minors but not all ages had the chassis number stamped in the front floorpan somewhere. If the floors have been replaced you'll probably have lost them but worth a look. You'll probably be looking for a number beginning MAS3 or MAS5.

The chassis number was stamped into the engine bay bulkhead on cars upto around 1965. After that, the stamping was in the RH front floor. However, in both cases this is the chassis number only NOT the prefix quoted above, so you will just be looking for a 6 or 7 digit number. If you do a search on here you should be able to find examples fairly easily. Unfortunately since changes were made on here I can no longer seem to post photographs with the equipment I have.

Hi again thanks for imput so far, I'm trying to add some photos,

Hope this may help gain some more info on car and any means of eventually registering

Should also have said the floor has been patched round drivers feet so no numbers visible

As I said in my earlier post, chassis number stamping to the RH floor started about 1965. As your car is plainly earlier than that, the chassis number stamping will be on the engine bay bulkhead so.......have a look

Agree with Manyminors. From the pics, your car looks to date from 1961 to 1963 (approx). Check the engine bay bulkhead for a chassis number stamped into it. Should be 6 or 7 digits (all numbers, no letters) and, I think I'm right in saying it will probably be on the driver's side, a little lower than the fuse box or the voltage regulator, assuming they're still present.

The locations of identity data.

The second strip screwed under the car no plate should not be there. If present, and I have an additional one on my 1957 4 door, it should be with the thin Z number plate on the top of the NS bulkhead.

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According to Chris Steven's (POMMREG) helpful info the BME code relates to a S3 2 door, so that plate is extraneous on this 4 door.

Hi Jon

Just a quickie for now, decent one later.

BM = MM & S2 2dr
BMA = S2 non GPO van
BMB = S2/early S3 GPO engineers
BMC = ditto mailvan
BMD = S2 Traveller
[b]BME = S3 2dr[/b]
BMF = S2 4dr
BMG = poss S2/S3 export GPO spec van
BMH = S3 4dr
(BMK = 1959 Mini)
BMT = MM/S2/S3 Tourer.(5 digits max)
CMC = S2 LCV Chassis cab
TMB = S2 LCV pickup

NMP plate prefixes;

C = Civilian (non GPO) LCV
P = GPO van (ended at 216950)
R = All 4dr (not H)
T = Tourer

The Potteries Branch website also helps narrow down the age, assuming the VIN plate on the car is contemporaneous (albeit that it apparently relates to a 2 door) as that style tends to be mid 1958 onwards and the apparent absence of the big square one (pre 1958) tends to confirm it. Are there screw holes indicating that a larger plate has been removed.?

http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Identify.htm

Just checked my 1958 Minor 1000 two door and the plate is prefixed BME so Chris Stevens information relating to the BME prefix is correct.

I would just add to the comments about the Body/Chassis/Car number stamping in the engine bay.
There could be enough paint over it to make it difficult to see, if the car has ever had any repainting.
My Series II has the number stamped between the Bonnet Rod and the Throttle Cable and not all characters are clear.
I'd swear if I took all the paint off, I'd probably find the final character just under the edge of the little plate that is around the throttle cable hole.

Thanks again really appreciate all the help will have another good look in engine bay for the number

Minor Millions were all BME 355xxx's & (I think?) they were all 12/60?