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VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:52 pm
by BRG?Mikey
I'm a first time user here so please excuse any faux pas. I have what was advertised as a 1953 Series II Morris Minor. It has a VIN number beginning 223(???). I have just received a BMIHT Heritage Certificate stating that the vehicle was built in October 1955. It has the 'cheese grater' grill, split screen, and small rear window. The speedo is in front of the steering wheel (rather than in a central situation, beneath a bulge) - it has the 'art deco' style dash. BMIHT tell me that it is a de-luxe - it has leather seats,a heater, and a passenger sun-visor. Luxury indeed! It has had a lot of work done prior to my ownership and isn't very original but is in fair shape structurally. I have tried to get some history about the car (written to previous owners on the V5) but with no joy.
My question is around the BMIHT build date (above). From a variety of sources (Minor Matters included, which reported for instance that chassis number 221803 was built in October 1953), my understanding was that the car was probably built in around November 1953, perhaps one of the first de-luxe specified cars(?). New South Wales Morris Minors (quoting Minimania in the USA) gives the 1953 VINs from 216901 to 233717. Wikipedia(!) tells me that the horizontal grill and central speedo was introduced in October 1954.
Given the above, is there any reason why a car like mine could have a build date of October 1955? I could go back to BMIHT (keyboard error on the certificate?) but I thought I'd check with the community first in case I've missed something obvious (were 'old style bodies' still being used in late 1955, even after the new style ones [central speedo] had been brought in for instance, though that wouldn't explain the VIN?). Many thanks.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:05 pm
by ManyMinors
I agree that a car with that chassis number would have been built in late 1953. The specification you have also dates it to that period, so there seems little doubt. I would contact BMIHT as it seems that they have made an error. Not the first time
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:56 am
by geoberni
That's definitely a '53 car, from description and body number; 223*** is around November '53.
My SII car is March '55 and is 324***.
Any reference book will tell people that the change from MM style interior to the central Speedo occurred in late '54, around the 290*** mark, depending on body style.
Go back to BMIHT, because somebody has made a mistake.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:30 pm
by BRG?Mikey
Many thanks to you both - I'll get back to BMIHT. Interesting to note that this wouldn't be the first time they've made a mistake.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:17 pm
by POMMReg
BRG?Mikey wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:52 pm
I'm a first time user here so please excuse any faux pas. I have what was advertised as a 1953 Series II Morris Minor. It has a VIN number beginning 223(???). I have just received a BMIHT Heritage Certificate stating that the vehicle was built in October 1955. It has the 'cheese grater' grill, split screen, and small rear window. The speedo is in front of the steering wheel (rather than in a central situation, beneath a bulge) - it has the 'art deco' style dash. BMIHT tell me that it is a de-luxe - it has leather seats,a heater, and a passenger sun-visor. Luxury indeed! It has had a lot of work done prior to my ownership and isn't very original but is in fair shape structurally. I have tried to get some history about the car (written to previous owners on the V5) but with no joy.
My question is around the BMIHT build date (above). From a variety of sources (Minor Matters included, which reported for instance that chassis number 221803 was built in October 1953), my understanding was that the car was probably built in around November 1953, perhaps one of the first de-luxe specified cars(?). New South Wales Morris Minors (quoting Minimania in the USA) gives the 1953 VINs from 216901 to 233717. Wikipedia(!) tells me that the horizontal grill and central speedo was introduced in October 1954.
Given the above, is there any reason why a car like mine could have a build date of October 1955? I could go back to BMIHT (keyboard error on the certificate?) but I thought I'd check with the community first in case I've missed something obvious (were 'old style bodies' still being used in late 1955, even after the new style ones [central speedo] had been brought in for instance, though that wouldn't explain the VIN?). Many thanks.
To confirm build year, use the body number;
1953 2dr 90k's/4dr in the 40k's/engines c50k's
1955 2dr 100k's/4dr 60k's/engines c150k's
Not exact, rough estimate...don't have up to date book with me atm.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:00 pm
by simmitc
Are you relying on the plate on the bulkhead for the VIN, or have you found the number stamped into the shell? It could be that someone has swapped the plate from one car to another. No idea why, but these things do happen; in which case, your description could be correct and so could BMIHT. Hopefully it's not that, but definitely look for the number in the bulkhead, not on the plate.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:45 pm
by BRG?Mikey
Thanks both. I was relying on the bulkhead plate. I'll see if I can find the number stamped on the shell. From what others have said though, the car can't have been built as late as October 1955 given the lack of a central speedo. Thanks again.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 8:29 pm
by geoberni
There's been a guy recently asking questions about his car over on the fb group; I think he's in Germany.
The Car's documents say it's a '64, but it's got Trafficators in it and the ID Plate is the older pre-1958 style.
He's posted a photo of the ID plate and you can see it's been over-stamped, quite obviously...
I told him where to look for the stamp in the bulkhead...
.
- Iffy.JPG (162.89 KiB) Viewed 745 times
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 5:46 pm
by BRG?Mikey
My plate looks pretty original to my unturored eye. I've sent a query over to BMIHT so we'll see what they say.....Thanks for your help everybody.
Re: VIN numbers - Series II
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:08 pm
by BRG?Mikey
Just as a footnote to this thread, I've had a reply from BMIHT. They agree that they have made a keyboard error and will be sending me a new certificate.
My plate looks pretty original to my unturored eye. I've sent a query over to BMIHT so we'll see what they say.....Thanks for your help everybody.