Anyone know the original reg number for my 1951 tourer?

[busguy]

I have an original Minor tourer built at factory 25/26th July 1951 and delivered to Lock and Stagg Ltd, the Morris agents in Ipswich on 31/7/51, who I assume then registered it for a customer.

Somewhere along the way it has lost its original registration number, more than likely when the car was first put on the DVLA computer. At the time, if the owner had no log book or other solid proof of the registration, then an age related transferable number was allocated. In this case RSU 323, and the car is shown as new on 11/1/89 on the V5C reg document, probably because there was no log book to prove the real original date of registration.

I have applied to DVLA for information on previous owners, etc. which may shed some light on the subject, but I need to try every avenue to gain solid info to have a case with DVLA for reuniting the car with its original number. I just need to find out what it was, and then I can find out if it possible!! I like a challenge.............

Does anyone long associated with MM's know the car from its past? Car build number SMM 108352 Thames Blue convertible.
Any information, however sketchy, would be gratefully received.

Cheers
John

[POMMReg]

Have you tried MMOC to see whether the chassis and registration
is in their records?

May have been owned by a previous member?

[busguy]

Thanks Chris. Got to be worth a try.
The car is on the MM register with its current reg number, but maybe somewhere back in the 60's, 70's, someone might have put the info on here.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Would the public record office in Ispwich have a record of number plates issued on or around that date? Might take some searching but could work!

When I bought my MM it had RSJ 773 issued when it was MOT ed in 1998 as the car had been off the road since 1973, prior to the computerisation of Swansea. Some old documents came with the car that werent of any use to prove the original reg. When I was stripping out the parcel shelf, bingo its last mot from 1973 was between the shelf and the battery box!! I had bought a heritage certificate and with some kind help from MMOC was able to prove that the original reg had only been issued for around 2 months when the car was built, that the numbers tallied up and that i could have my original reg of OPE 478 re issued on a non transferable basis. RESULT

[busguy]

That's brilliant David. I hope I'm as lucky in the quest to find the number and any evidence that would support the change.

The Ipswich record office has some motor registration records, but I believe they are only up to 1950!! I have just written to them and will go over there if things get hopeful.

This will be a slow job, but I don't give up easily.

[POMMReg]

I started 'regn spotting' LCVs in the mid '80s, wonder whether
someone did likewise for MMs?

Have you contacted DVLA for previous recorded owners/keepers
details - owner may have a pic displaying orig. regn.

[sparesman]

If is was actually sold by Locke and Stagg it would probably have had a DX registration number. An Essex member, Henry Cooper had BDX on his MM. Try also Ipswich Transport Society who may have copies of Ipswich registration documents.Alan Russell an MM owner helps out there.
Bryan