Is this a valid chassis number ?

[gillardh]

Looking at buying what is supposed to be a 1962 Tourer (ie convertible). Vendor says the engine no is F58276 and the chassis no is 01835.
Can this be right ? Shouldn't the chassis number be 8 characters ? Any other codes that would identify this as a Tourer, not a butchered two-door?

[rayofleamington]

You will need to know the full chassis number - not just the numbers at the end.

not a butchered two-door?

A tourer is only a 2 door saloon without a roof and a few extra bits in/around the sills. Hence many of the post production Tourers are much better vehicles than factory ones, as they haven't suffered as many decades of damp carpets.
Personally I'd judge the car on its condition, rather than originality, but each to his own and you're welcome to see it the other way.

However, with the premium paid for 'originality', I guess that's why a few people are so inclined to 'ring' post production convertibles by using the log book and chassis plates from a rotten factory tourer.

[Kevin]

If it has switches for the interior light in the A posts its a chopped saloon.

[Willie]

A 1962 car would either have a 948cc engine or,if made after September '62
it would have a 1098cc unit. The 948 engine number would start with 9M-U-
...and have six numbers. The 1098 unit would start with 10MA-U...... The
chassis numbers for that year would have six numbers any where between
940000 and 990288. As Kevin says look for the courtesy light holes in the
A pillars and check that there are curved reinforcement plates at the bottom
left and right edges of the dashboard(by the front occupants knees). If these
curved plates are present then check that they have been spot welded not
seam welded. There should also be additional vertical strengthening assemblies welded to the B pillars inside the car from the doorstep upwards.
These should also be spot welded.

[gillardh]

Well people, that MM needed a lot of work doing to it, so I have investigated a second one. This is in better condition, but it too has another unexpected set of numbers
Engine #156844....Chassis #568156027
This is - on the face of it - a 1950 MM, with a Series 3 (948) engine
Numbers look nothing like those I'd expect (from looking at the Morris Minor Potteries web site).
Question: were chassis and engine numbers for export different to those for UK use ? (Both these cars are in Oz)