Hi just looking through the 850 register and wondering where the body number is stamped?all i can find are 2 numbers stamped into the firewall on the upper r.h.s the one on top is 34321 and about an inch below is 31083 are they supposed to have a compliance plate? or am i looking in the wrong place Thanks

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Darren
00 triton d/cab
55 chev(oversize moneybox)
1963 850 (roundie)
77 clubby
95 zxr 750 + toys!!

There should only be one body number , does one of them have two holes from pop rivets (one either side of the number as if a plate was rivetted over it ?) ? Do you know any of the history of the mini or what body number it was last registered with ? The number should be behind the master cylinders and below the ID plate (if it's missing look for the two holes mentioned above ) .

There are a few reasons why it could have two body numbers , it could have been re-shelled by BMC early in it's life for whatever reason (could explain the two numbers being close) or it could have been stolen and rebirthed (hopefully not but is always possible with a 40 or so year old car ) .

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well there you go it has a hole either side of the top number like you mentioned so i guess thats what must be missing

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Darren
00 triton d/cab
55 chev(oversize moneybox)
1963 850 (roundie)
77 clubby
95 zxr 750 + toys!!

Are there any other pairs of holes nearby with the same spacing ? It's likely if there aren't that the shell was replaced with a new one for some reason (before or after it left the factory , who knows) and the Build plate was put over the new bodies number and the original shells number was stamped below it . I'll check the numbers in the 850 register tomorrow and see how many months were between them .

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Thanks for that i would like to find out a bit more about it i couldn't find any more sets of holes or numbers any where

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Darren
00 triton d/cab
55 chev(oversize moneybox)
1963 850 (roundie)
77 clubby
95 zxr 750 + toys!!

If it is an early 850 like mine you might find the 4 digit body number on the rear floor behind the driver's seat. I found this while I was repairing the floor sections. Mine also has some extra numbers (not related to the ID plate and similar to yours) stamped each side otf the speedo hole. I also had a Cooper S that had the body number stamped behind the ID plate (very useful!)

Well , both body numbers were made in 1963 , there were around 18,000 bodies made (or assigned) according to the numbers on the register in 1963 so those two numbers would be around 2 months apart or less . Seems like the mini might have been reshelled (or just replaced) at the factory for whatever reason . I'd be inclined to say the higher number would be the body number used by your local registry authority but check on any old rego papers or info you got with the car . Just check both of them with REVS or the police first to make sure though as a paranoia check ....

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