docwood wrote:
For starters. There are 2 numbers on the firewall. But instead of being on the right of the speedo hole, they are on the left of the left side. One number is 1627, and the lower number is 15851. Then on the Radiator Cowling there is a third number - (Preceded by 05 at right angles to the other numbers) 29864.
To complete the mystery - the compliance plate states the following.
- Type "YMA 2S1"
- Car No. "119928/16278"
- Engine No. "8AMUH/345387"
- Colour "1 SAXON GREEN 3"
(I can't work out how to insert pictures - so if you could let me know how to do this, then I'll post the 3 pictures with this info on them.
Now while I was sandblasting the paint off, the original colour of the car is definitely Saxon Green. The car had since been painted Red and had a Clubman 998 engine. I think the compliance plate is not the original as it has been stamped - from the front (not reverse stamped from the rear). The compliance plate was also riveted on to the right side of the speedo and was crocked. I think it may have been re-registered at one stage, and the Car Number was made up to fit with modern day "VIN numbers".
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This would all be correct for an early CKD 850 assembled in Australia.
Early cars had hand stamped ID plates with 2 sets of numbers as you describe. The number 16278 is the Australian Car Number and you will find that the number has also been stamped in the body (look closer and you may find a lightly stamped 8 in that number). The 15851 is possibly the body number which is often 500 or so different from the car Number. The number 119928 on the ID plate is the CKD number.
The numbers on the radiator shroud doesn't seem to fit with the car and may be because a later inner guard has been fitted due to accident damage?
I have a very early (1960) Australian assembled 850 and found another Car Number stamped in the rear floor directly behind the driver's seat.