Matching Numbers?
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:46 pm
I'm pretty sure my newly acquired restoration project Plus 2 is all original in terms of having the chassis, body and engine it left the factory with. According to the V5 it was registered 02/07/1968 and the VIN is 50/0837 (which appears on the chassis plate under the bonnet). Car shows around 33k miles on the odometer.
I've removed the engine and was very pleased to find the number matches exactly with the V5 - LP12635LBA. Interestingly however no 'L' casting under the engine mount - was this a later development?
The chassis is definately original and the good news is I am 95% certain it will go again - there are no signs of rot or perforation anywhere, notably the front turrets, only surface rust where the wax coating is missing. I will tell for sure when I lift the body off but I am very hopeful.
The body impression on the front bulkead seems to read 0863 but it's quite indistinct - I may need do do a bit more scraping off of the paint here but that's tantalisingly close to 0837. Question is would the bodyshell number correspond to the VIN number anyway, and would the chassis also?
I can see two areas of numbering on the chassis on the exhaust side top rail - one area with the number '63' and right next to it a circle with the characters E J G and 2 impressed within.
Unfortunately where the exhaust manifold is someone has relieved the chassis top flange to ease fitment of a tubular manifold and in so doing removed part of the number - I can see 50/0.....and then the rest is gone.
So could someone explain the numbering arrangements for a 'matching numbers' car please in terms of what appears where?
I was never bothered about such details but have become quite excited about what appears to be a very original car.
..can't wait to open up the engine as what condition she's in
I've removed the engine and was very pleased to find the number matches exactly with the V5 - LP12635LBA. Interestingly however no 'L' casting under the engine mount - was this a later development?
The chassis is definately original and the good news is I am 95% certain it will go again - there are no signs of rot or perforation anywhere, notably the front turrets, only surface rust where the wax coating is missing. I will tell for sure when I lift the body off but I am very hopeful.
The body impression on the front bulkead seems to read 0863 but it's quite indistinct - I may need do do a bit more scraping off of the paint here but that's tantalisingly close to 0837. Question is would the bodyshell number correspond to the VIN number anyway, and would the chassis also?
I can see two areas of numbering on the chassis on the exhaust side top rail - one area with the number '63' and right next to it a circle with the characters E J G and 2 impressed within.
Unfortunately where the exhaust manifold is someone has relieved the chassis top flange to ease fitment of a tubular manifold and in so doing removed part of the number - I can see 50/0.....and then the rest is gone.
So could someone explain the numbering arrangements for a 'matching numbers' car please in terms of what appears where?
I was never bothered about such details but have become quite excited about what appears to be a very original car.
..can't wait to open up the engine as what condition she's in