Confused about my series II
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
Confused about my series II
Hi everyone,
I've owned my 1954 series II for almost 14 years now. He's been layed up (garaged) for 8yrs or so and I'm just remarking on getting him back on the road.
When I bought him the previous owner (who I'm no longer in contact with) had sold the original registration and now the car is adorned with heritage plates 'SVS 995' I believe the original plates were 'RTA 622' but can-not sure about this as it was simply the number written on the reverse of the little card in the plastic key fob on the egnition key supplied with the car!
The reason why I'm confused is as followes:
The car is a post facelift series II - i.e: smiley face grille and central speedo dash with open glove-boxes. From all I've read and from what everyone's telling me this 'facelift' occurred sometime in late September/oct 1954. The date on the V5 document for the car and the dvla register is June 1954!
Can anyone help me I clearing up what might be going on here? Are all the dates in every historian's research wrong or is it more likely that some jiggery-pokery has gone on with the DVLA's records?
I've attached a photo of the car incase it helps.
Please let me know what you think? I hope this inspires some interest amongst some of you out there and I'm not just boring the pants off everyone!
Many thanks,
L[frame][/frame]
I've owned my 1954 series II for almost 14 years now. He's been layed up (garaged) for 8yrs or so and I'm just remarking on getting him back on the road.
When I bought him the previous owner (who I'm no longer in contact with) had sold the original registration and now the car is adorned with heritage plates 'SVS 995' I believe the original plates were 'RTA 622' but can-not sure about this as it was simply the number written on the reverse of the little card in the plastic key fob on the egnition key supplied with the car!
The reason why I'm confused is as followes:
The car is a post facelift series II - i.e: smiley face grille and central speedo dash with open glove-boxes. From all I've read and from what everyone's telling me this 'facelift' occurred sometime in late September/oct 1954. The date on the V5 document for the car and the dvla register is June 1954!
Can anyone help me I clearing up what might be going on here? Are all the dates in every historian's research wrong or is it more likely that some jiggery-pokery has gone on with the DVLA's records?
I've attached a photo of the car incase it helps.
Please let me know what you think? I hope this inspires some interest amongst some of you out there and I'm not just boring the pants off everyone!
Many thanks,
L[frame][/frame]
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2765
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:41 am
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
The best way to tell will be from the chassis number. Also, check that the number stamped into the alloy plate on the bulkhead is the same as the number stamped into the steel bulkhead on the car itself. According to reference books the earliest chassis number for the facelifted 4door cars like yours was 290173 with a date, as you've suggested, of September 1954......
Have a careful look for the bulkhead stamped number.
Have a careful look for the bulkhead stamped number.
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 3023
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:17 pm
- Location: Gloucester
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
May-Nov 1954 for "RTA" - doubt 622 (over half the series) have been reached during
June IF 999 was in November.
Suspect boo-boo on the rf60 if central speedo.
June IF 999 was in November.
Suspect boo-boo on the rf60 if central speedo.
Further investigations uncovered it was an inside job!!
Re: Confused about my series II
Thanks for that info. Didn't know about the number on the body! Will check it out later today & post it here.
Best,
L
Best,
L
Re: Confused about my series II
Ok, here goes.
I've located the number on the bulkhead and with a little scraping (forgive me but it was the only way I could reveal it - very badly stamped actually!). I couldn't get a descent photo of it without dis-connecting the heater pipes and the wiring loom but I wrote it down along with the numbers on the plates. Here they are:
Numbers as they appear on the plates:
Car no: FAJII/ 260430
Engine no: APHM 93715
Number stamped into bulkhead:
303033
What are your thoughts? I don't know how to decode these things but should the body number on the bulkhead match the car number on the plate??!
Thanks for looking!
L
I've located the number on the bulkhead and with a little scraping (forgive me but it was the only way I could reveal it - very badly stamped actually!). I couldn't get a descent photo of it without dis-connecting the heater pipes and the wiring loom but I wrote it down along with the numbers on the plates. Here they are:
Numbers as they appear on the plates:
Car no: FAJII/ 260430
Engine no: APHM 93715
Number stamped into bulkhead:
303033
What are your thoughts? I don't know how to decode these things but should the body number on the bulkhead match the car number on the plate??!
Thanks for looking!
L
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1460
- Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:32 pm
- Location: Clacton On Sea, Essex, ENGLAND.
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Confused about my series II
Your ID code Translates to:
MINOR/ 4 DOOR SALOON/ DARK GREY/ RIGHT HAND DRIVE/ SYNTHETIC PAINT/ No.260430.
Your Engine Code is: AUSTIN A SERIES 803cc .
MINOR/ 4 DOOR SALOON/ DARK GREY/ RIGHT HAND DRIVE/ SYNTHETIC PAINT/ No.260430.
Your Engine Code is: AUSTIN A SERIES 803cc .
Re: Confused about my series II
Also have these plates on near side, top of bulkhead.[frame][/frame]
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1140
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:55 pm
- Location: Le Tronquay, nr Bayeux, en France - Pop in for a cuppa!
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
The 'FJ' number and the stamped number should match. You were right to be concerned.
What is the VIN down as on the logbook?
What is the VIN down as on the logbook?
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 3023
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:17 pm
- Location: Gloucester
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
Body number matches the (stamped in) chassis id 303033
260430 matches for engine 93715 - is the latter FROM the car or........what's quoted ON the id plate?
original for 303033 approx. APHM 142xxx
The rego seems a bit of a puzzle too(?)
260430 matches for engine 93715 - is the latter FROM the car or........what's quoted ON the id plate?
original for 303033 approx. APHM 142xxx
The rego seems a bit of a puzzle too(?)
Further investigations uncovered it was an inside job!!
Re: Confused about my series II
Ok, as I mentioned before, it has heratiage plates on it now - SVS995 and to my knowledge these were put on it by the previous owner.chesney wrote:The 'FJ' number and the stamped number should match. You were right to be concerned.
What is the VIN down as on the logbook?
I've never seen the original log book as it was presumably surrendered along with the old number plates. I've only ever had the V5 document that has only existed since the heritage plates were put on. I guess this is the modern 'log book'.
Will check this when I get back tomorrow & let you know exactly what it says but from memory I don't think it tells us much other than what we already know!
Thanks again!
L
Re: Confused about my series II
POMMReg wrote:Body number matches the (stamped in) chassis id 303033
260430 matches for engine 93715 - is the latter FROM the car or........what's quoted ON the id plate?
original for 303033 approx. APHM 142xxx
The rego seems a bit of a puzzle too(?)
Ok, these are the Numbers as they appear on the ID plates:
Car no: FAJII/ 260430
Engine no: APHM 93715
And this is the number stamped into the body of the car:
303033
Cheers,
L
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2765
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:41 am
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
It rather sounds as if your car has had the identity of an older one swapped onto it at some time. This is not uncommon and was probably done in order to sell/transfer the registration number of a car which only existed in the form of documentation...... Why whoever did that then sold the car on with the incorrect identity is anyone's guess?
I suppose you could attempt to find your cars correct identity (possible even the club have a record of the correct registration from the stamped in chassis number?) but failing that you'll just have to live with it I suppose. A bit of a shame but what else can you do
I can't think of any other explanation offhand. A friend of mine owns a 1971 Traveller which has a chassis number about 10years earlier which I expect came about after a similar exercise. I hasten to add that it was like that when he bought it AND when the owner before him bought it too. Strangely, even the V5 records the incorrect details on that particular car
I suppose you could attempt to find your cars correct identity (possible even the club have a record of the correct registration from the stamped in chassis number?) but failing that you'll just have to live with it I suppose. A bit of a shame but what else can you do
I can't think of any other explanation offhand. A friend of mine owns a 1971 Traveller which has a chassis number about 10years earlier which I expect came about after a similar exercise. I hasten to add that it was like that when he bought it AND when the owner before him bought it too. Strangely, even the V5 records the incorrect details on that particular car
Re: Confused about my series II
The other possibility of course is that the car is stolen - and disguised with details from a car being scrapped....
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 3773
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:53 am
- Location: South Manchester
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Confused about my series II
Apply for a British Heritage certificate
Re: Confused about my series II
Have taken the plunge & applied for one this evening for the ACTUAL body number. We'll see what they come up with! Will post again once I get some news. Watch this space!irmscher wrote:Apply for a British Heritage certificate
Thank you so much for your thoughts & time everyone!
Re: Confused about my series II
You're doing the right thing... Is there any evidence that the car (as it is now) was ever 'dark grey' ?
-
- Series MM Registrar
- Posts: 10183
- Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:39 pm
- Location: Reading
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
Engine code isBoomlander wrote:Your ID code Translates to:
MINOR/ 4 DOOR SALOON/ DARK GREY/ RIGHT HAND DRIVE/ SYNTHETIC PAINT/ No.260430.
Your Engine Code is: AUSTIN A SERIES 803cc .
A = A Series
P = Push Rod
H = Power Rating (about 30bhp)
M = Morris
Austin would be APHA
[sig]3580[/sig]
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:11 pm
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Confused about my series II
Hi,
Looks like a nice example of a Series II all the same -
Please may I get some information from you regarding your car for the Series II register?
If you see this - private message me.
Cheers,
Mark.
Looks like a nice example of a Series II all the same -
Please may I get some information from you regarding your car for the Series II register?
If you see this - private message me.
Cheers,
Mark.