MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Car SN Mystery?

OK, I'm getting aquainted with my new 59 roadster, purchased for $2500 USD (heh, heh) and I find a strange anomoly with the SN. It's HDA43/54510. This car is registered as a 1959 and badged as a 1600. There is no engine serial number (plate missing, rivets there, strange looking "saw" marks in the boss).
HDA would indicate MGA Roadster, Black. 54510 would indicate it's a 1500. Hmmmm.
Car is currently white. Scraping down paint and checking bosses on various mounts indicate the car was originally Glacier Blue. Hmmmm.
Firewall SN (body number) is B20336, which is consistent with a 1959 1600. ( I had a 1960 car B29247). Hmmmm.
Talking to PO of 26 years, he says that the way it's always been. But the HDA43 was missing from the NY registration when I bought it. Ony 54510 was shown for VIN. I had to get that fixed. Hmmmmm.
Checked the frame cross memember for a number but can't find any.
OK, the car is legally registered, no problem. But I'm really curious. Would like a heritage certificate. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Gerry
G T Foster

Should also have included that car has correct 1600 parking and tail lamps and no turn signal relay. But it did have a flat top (1500) master cylinder, but does have front discs. Hummmmmmm.......

GTF
G T Foster

It's possible that somebody threw the body of a 1600 on your 1500, but it also sounds like it could be a data plate switch. Does the engine block have 1500 or 1600 cast into the side, and does the car have disc brakes on the front or drums? Those items could also have been switched, but would at least provide clues. Does the front frame extension have the provision for mounting the factory swaybar (originally a 1600 only feature)?

Does the transmission tunnel and frame have the hump for the high starter? A 1500 with that chassis number would definitely be a low starter car, like mine. Even if a low starter 1500 engine were currently installed, the presence of the hump would indicate that the car is actually a 1600.
Del Rawlins

Go to a coin shop and get an acid that I have used to bring back the dates on old coins that were worn. It might help bring back the numbers on the frame.
JEFF BECKER

Del,
It does have the high starter position and frame extension of the 1600. Sure seems like a data plate switch.
Maybe I'll give Jeff's suggestion about acid a try.
Thanks,
Gerry
G T Foster

Gerry,
I believe you can only get a heritage certificate by reference to the chassis number, not the body tag number.
regards
Colin
C Manley

Sounds like it has been made up from 2 cars - could be quite innocent if PO had two cars damaged and wanted to make one good one.
Cam Cunningham

Dimmer switch of 1600s are on a different braket (AHH5965)mounting to the frame, not bracket(AHH5347)that mounts on underside of the shelf. . Also the tabs that the front brake hoses use for mounting on the frame area little bit different.
David Werblow

Gerry, given your coupe restoration experience, I'm sure you could tell if your roadster had been pieced together from 2 cars. What do you think?
George
G Goeppner

Hey George,
Everything about this car (lights, 1600 engine block, body number, disc brakes, high starter, etc, etc) except the number plate and the flat top MC say 1600. Yes it has the correct 1600 dipper braket and brake hose mounting. All the areas I've checked show the same light blue base paint, (Glacier or Iris Blue... If a 1600 I guess its Iris Blue). Looks like an authentic 1600 to me. Sure hope I can find that number stamped in the frame. But then what do I do? Think the DMV will let me change the VIN number? Hell, it's a great car even if it does have the wrong number. Will make for great story telling I suppose......:)
Old MG's are fun!!

Gerry
G T Foster

This thread was discussed between 28/11/2007 and 30/11/2007

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.