My two first Morris Minors.

[holdenbellUSA]

Hi, I'm new to the forum here. I bought my first two Morris Minors the other day, in near shambles, but here in the U.S, these aren't easy to come by so I snatched them up. Never owning a "foreign" car before, I know hardly nothing about them, other than I know that I've probably gotten in over my head. Anyway, I found a VIN decoder on here, and was unable to get it to work for me. I don't know what year, what engines they used to have, or any thing else other than they're Morris Minors. If I post the VINs, is there anyone that could decode them for me? Also, does anyone have an idea of how many may be in the U.S?
VINs:
M/A2S3L819674
M/A2S3L683854

Thanks!
I hope to be able to post a few pictures soon.

-Holden

[qwerty165]

Looking at the two number i would say that:
M/A2S3L819674
is most likely
MA2S3/819674
M-Morris
A-A series engine
2S- 2 door Saloon
3- 948cc
and I would say that 819674 is a 1960 vehicle as they had

Chassis numbers from 790007 to 886160

M/A2S3L683854
is most likely
MA2S3/683854
M-Morris
A-A series engine
2S- 2 door Saloon
3- 948cc
and I would say that 683854 is a 1959 vehicle as they had

Chassis numbers from 683433 to 790006

The L on both plates could also possibly be a D which would mean Deluxe, however it is more likely to be a /

[holdenbellUSA]

Thank you, that helped me out a lot.

[POMMReg]

When did the "D" in chassis number prefixes commence?

[qwerty165]

Well according to
http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Identify.htm

Mid 1958

New style of prefix beginning with "M" was introduced from chassis number 666001 (October 29th, 1958).

So I would say that would have been when the D was introduced for I have been unable to find mention of a seperate entry date for the D.

[POMMReg]

First one mentioned on the database is 23/1/62.

Is the Minorsite 100% fact?

[lowride stepside]

Foreign cars ! The cheek. Of it .

[qwerty165]

First one mentioned on the database is 23/1/62.

Well I guess the data base must be correct, I was just assuming incorrectly that the change of the format for the Chasis number saw the introduction of the letter D.

[POMMReg]

Not inferring i'm correct, just odd a D is not mentioned in the 170 odd I have listed between
1958-61!

Cannot expect these reference thingymabobs to be 100% if they ignore body number
change points.

[stevey]

L for left hand drive

[qwerty165]

L for left hand drive

Was that not specified by the 1st number as a 3 or 6 (for CKD) on the second format of the chasis number, eg. FBA31. But when it changed to the M prefix there does not seem to be any refrence to the fact that the vehicle was either LHD or RHD.

First Letter
M Morris
A Austin
Second Letter
A A-series engine
Third Letter
S 4 Door Saloon
2S 2 Door Saloon
T Tourer/Convertible
W Traveller
V Van
U Pickup
Q Chassis/Cab
G GPO Postal Van
E GPO Engineer's Van
Forth Figure
3 948cc
5 1098cc
C Austin LCV
Optional Letter
D Deluxe
Post 1968 Suffix (Factory)
M Cowley
F Adderley Park

[POMMReg]

Missed a few!

Still doesn't answer the D query though!

[qwerty165]

L for left hand drive

Was that not specified by the 1st number as a 3 or 6 (for CKD) on the second format of the chasis number, eg. FBA31. But when it changed to the M prefix there does not seem to be any refrence to the fact that the vehicle was either LHD or RHD.

First Letter
M Morris
A Austin
Second Letter
A A-series engine
Third Letter
S 4 Door Saloon
2S 2 Door Saloon
T Tourer/Convertible
W Traveller
V Van
U Pickup
Q Chassis/Cab
G GPO Postal Van
E GPO Engineer's Van
Forth Figure
3 948cc
5 1098cc
C Austin LCV
Optional Letter
D Deluxe
Post 1968 Suffix (Factory)
M Cowley
F Adderley Park

Just found this this

final prefix was either a D for de-luxe or L indicating LHD

on http://www.morris-minor.co.uk/p70.htm, so the L is plausable looks like my mistake, I do apologies.

[qwerty165]

Missed a few!

Well I have Missed the L as I have just found it on another website that I had not previously found. So just out of interest what else have I not being able to find that I have missed out?

[holdenbellUSA]

Here is pictures of the VIN plates to give you a better idea.

[qwerty165]

With the picture and my newly acquired knowledge I would say now that

Looking at the two number i would say that:
M/A2S3L819674
is
M- Morris
A- A series engine
2S- 2 door Saloon
3- 948cc
L- Left Hand drive
and I would say that 819674 is a 1960 vehicle as they had

Chassis numbers from 790007 to 886160

M/A2S3L683854
is
M- Morris
A- A series engine
2S- 2 door Saloon
3- 948cc
L- Left Hand Drive
and I would say that 683854 is a 1959 vehicle as they had

Chassis numbers from 683433 to 790006

[POMMReg]

Did pm the month/year.

Dread to ask for their body numbers!