Bill B wrote:
When I was trying to get my mini registered last year using the correct numbers, with advice from phillb and others on here, I received a visit one morning from an RMS Vehicle Identification Examiner, who looked at all the numbers, took photos and sighted old registration papers from the 1980s. At first he went to the radiator cowl. Eventually we got into a conversation and I showed him a copy of Stephen Dalton's articles on identifying minis and why the radiator cowl was not the car number. He asked for a copy for his reference.
He went on to tell me that his unit once had 13 inspectors across NSW, now down to 9 and 3 more, including him, retiring by early 2019. With changes in leadership in the unit, they never had a full detailed database of car makes and models and identity features. This inspector took it upon himself to keep his own database on Fords mainly (personal interest- a lot of dodgy GTs apparently) and would visit a car showroom when a new model was released to keep his records up to date.
You have to feel sorry for those people who try to do a good job; maybe those jobs don't return the government a big enough "efficiency bonus".
I dug back thru my old messages in Ausmini and found I had saved this message from a member who obviously had inside info on the inner workings of the RTA. I won’t identify him and I have removed the Phone number.
This was in 2009......
Quote:
Hi Phill
NSW blue slip guys have vehicle specs for vehicles manufactured after 1972 which give them all the details they need. To find the location of the engine or chassis number they look at a spec sheet for that make and model and it gives the guy a grid reference just like looking for a street in a street directory really.
Having said that, if the vehicle is manufactured prior to 1972 as yours is and the blue slip guy cant locate or doesn't know where the number is located he has the resources of the RTA Technical Enquiries section (and no i don't work there) at his disposal on 1300XXXXXXX where they have the specs for vehicles manufactured prior to 1972 and they can tell him that the chassis number location for a Mk 1 cooper S is on his I.D reference chart number 9 at reference point H-12 remember just like a street directory (BTW chart 9, ref H-12 is at the right side firewall near the I.D plate)
Maybe you could politely ask him to check with RTA on the above number as it is import to keep the original numbers.
If you send me your e-mail i can scan a copy of I.D chart 9 for you.
i'm sure i have a pic of my rad cowling, i'll keep looking
hope this helps
Message 2
Quote:
Hi Phill
the location you mentioned 8n23 is the rad cowling and is the location listed for the Mk 2. make sure you tell them it is a Mk 1 with the prefix YKG2S2 and not prefix ending with 2S4 thats the Mk2. If the car still has the I.D plate fitted it will have the prefix ending in 2S2 to also confirm its a Mk1.
best of luck let me know what happens.
_________________
68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)