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MG MGA - car number - engine number

Earlier this year I bought my MGA 1500 (1957), which was imported from the US to The Netherlands in 1996.
It's one of those cars of which, somewhere in it's long history, the engine number became the car number (VIN) on the official US title document. Incorrect of course, but not unique (see Clausager, page 109).

I wonder if it is still posible to detect the original car number even as the car lacks both the factory identification plates and original inscripts?

Well, the new 'car number' meanwhile got official status from the Dutch authorities as formal identification: they engraved the engine number on the scuttle behind the seats, including all proper seals etc. So far so good, but nevertheless it seems to be a bastard, no pedigree that is, but drives very well, looks like a brand new car in all other details and gives lots of fun...
jan donders

Jan

Apparently, the car number is also occasionally stamped in the frame. Look at the frame cross member on the floor in front of the right hand seat, between the front and rear floor boards. The factory stamped the chassis number there about 12cm outboard from the gearbox tunnelling.

That said, I have been unable to find it on mine.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Can the body # be traced back to a vin # ? Do the factory records exist ? Any one out there know ?
R J Brown

The car number cannot be traced to a chassis number. It was never recorded at the factory.
Dan Smithers

Title documents are all state issued. Do you know what state it was last from? or how long ago it was in USA? Someone from last state of issue might be able to help. What history do you have?
R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2005 and 20/09/2005

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