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MG MGA - Body number help
| Hi Chaps, I recall in the past seeing messages regarding linking body numbers to production dates. I am finalising my 1600 and only have the body number B14698 to use in registration paperwork process. (The floorboard rail carrying the chassis number had rotted away) I will be having dialogue with the MG Car Club and have asked Motor Heritage if they have any info (they don't usually have records of body numbers), but does anyone have some information that i could use to evidence a production date please? regards Colin |
| Colin Manley |
| See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/buying/buy101b.htm |
| Barney Gaylord |
| Colyn Strictly speaking, the chassis number is not on the floorboard rail. It is on the rather more solid crossmember in front of the left hand seat. But you are right about corrosion (rotting - I hope not) obscuring this stamped number. I have the article on it from the MGCC MGA Register 2005 if you have not already seen it. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| The body number is stamped on a small plate spot welded to the bulkhead, in the engine compartment, adjacent to the right hand bonnet (hood) hinge. My coupe, built in November 1959 carries the number B8226. (One owner since 1970) David |
| D Brown |
| My 1600 coupe was originally Old English White (now red) has the number B8412 on the little plate on the bulkhead. I have guessed that it is a 1959 model, perhaps it is later? |
| Barry Bahnisch |
| Colin Have you narrowed down the age of your car yet? I just did a 'back of a fag packet' calculation using Barney's data and Clausager and I reckon you are looking at around February 1960. It might be in your interest to make it 2 months older (December 1959) then you won't need to have it MoT'd!!!!! I'm not sure if David (2 posts up) misunderstood my chassis post. Just for clarification for others who might not be familiar, the chassis number is distinct from the body number. Each chassis was stamped by the welding team and there is a sequence that can be be used in helping the dating. The stamped letters and numbers are positioned as described in my previous post but with the passing of time many are indiscernible due to chassis pitting. This is the shortened link to the chassis dating article published by the MGCC (UK) MGA Register: http://tinyurl.com/d67dcpz Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Steve Yes - part mis-understood. The chassis stamping is news to me. Never too late to learn more about the 'A'. Also hope that between us we can find enough body numbers with confirmed dates to give Colin a closer idea of the build date of his car. Though this rather assumes that the body numbers are sequential - I have no idea on this. David |
| D Brown |
| I would not assume that the bodies numbers will be any more sequencing that the motor numbers were. My understanding is that the bodies were constructed, painted, and trimmed and then shipped Abingdon from another factory. I have seen a photo and a Transporter parked out side the factory loaded with "A" bodies ready to be taken in and "dropped" onto the chassis. Of course, I can't lay my hand on it now to scan. The bodies might be closer to being sequential than the motors but I have seen a number of photos of the assembly line where all the cars on it were the same color. So, they may have come in batches. Anyone know? |
| Keith Lowman |
| I found the chassis number stamped into the right side square tubing chassis member. It was very lightly stamped into the steel on the rear edge approx. middle of the tube. When looking do not use sandpaper as you may run the risk of obliterating it. Clean all rust away with some solvent and a rag, and keep wiping with the rag until clean. Sprinkle some talc on the area and spread it with your finger. It may bring up the number. Good luck. |
| C.R. Tyrell |
| I was only able to get fragments of numbers from my RH cross member. Enough to confirm that the number from the plate matched the chassis with a high degree of certainty, but it wouldn't have been enough to determine the number from just the frame alone if I hadn't already known it from the plate. If that makes any sense. |
| Del Rawlins |
| Steve, The chassis number, if you can find it, is on the right side of the cross member, i.e., on a RHD car in front of the driver's seat. It is quite close to the tunnel, and is stamped right on the rear edge. This is confirmed by CR and Del in their posts. On the left side you can sometimes find the inspector's stamp, which is unrelated to the chassis number as this was a sequential number and had an added letter below it to identify the inspector. See the article below. http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/Technical_Information/Frame%20Numbers.pdf Peter. |
| P. Tilbury |
| Peter Yes, that is my website link that I shortened in my post above. I need to change the document name as your link does not like the space represented by the%. Incidently, the document author was more than happy for my to add the document to my website as he wants more data for his analysis Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
Like Del's, my chassis number was difficult to read but OK if you knew what it was supposed to be - see photo. A PO has re-stamped it alongside - at least I assume it was a PO and not the factory.
 |
| Cam Cunningham |
| Sorry Steve. I did not know that came from your web site as it had been sent to me by a friend. I was trying to correct the "left" in your post to "right". Peter. |
| P. Tilbury |
| Peter I posted from memory without reading the article again. I just remember finding letters and numbers on the left side and sending them to the author. Happy Christmas. Just got back from the local pub, smokey log fire etc. Unfortunately raining hard, no snow. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Colin, I may be able to narrow down your VIN according to your body# to 70 cars. I have my own registry with a lot of cars. Send an e-mail to giovanni.delicio@sidel.com and I'll send you the info. Gio |
| Giovanni Delicio |
| Gio, Thanks. I've mailed you. regards Colin |
| Colin Manley |
| Hi Colin, So Koen to run an extract of body numbers similar to yours and you may get close but as you know body numbers jump about in relation to chassis numbers, depending on what orders the factory received. Cheers Mark |
| Mark Hester |
This thread was discussed between 18/12/2013 and 21/01/2014
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