Date of manufacture

[michael4]

I wonder if anyone can help me find an approximate date for the manufacture of our Morris Minor from the chassis numbers? 

It started life as a 2 door saloon and subsequently lost its roof some years ago.

It is 'J' suffix registered and the V5 tells me that it was first registered 11/06/1971 though the MOT check website has its first registration a month later, 11/07/71. I've come across similar inaccuracies before.

According to the internet, production of two door cars stopped 12/11/70 so this leaves the car lying around unregistered for 6 or seven months. Is this likely?

The chassis number is: MA2S5D 1287280M 
The engine number is: 10V / 189E / H62288

It is obviously a late car, but how late? I certainly remember stories in the press of unsold cars sitting in fields for months on end but I thought they were all Lancias!

[ManyMinors]

According to the Motor Trade "Bible" Glass's Guide, the final chassis number issued for the 2door Minor 1000 was M/A2S5 1288377 in December 1970.
It might seem surprising now but there weren't queues of customers for the last Minor 1000s - which were very outdated by then - so they took some time to sell. Not surprising that several were registered some months after their build date :wink.

The Motor museum at Gaydon might be able to provide you with more accurate information.

[michael4]

Many thanks for the response, much appreciated.

You are quite right, the archaic Morris was hardly at the top of my list in my early 20s! I think I had a yellow Zodiac at the time but am not sure...cars came and went.

Being the one thousand and ninety seventh before last Minor 2 door must make ours tremendously rare and desirable, not.

[geoberni]

It is obviously a late car, but how late? I certainly remember stories in the press of unsold cars sitting in fields for months on end but I thought they were all Lancias!

Cars and vans being stored for many months has always happened.
My local former WWII airfield is often used. This image is from summer 2017 courtesy of Google Earth. There was no Scrappage Scheme at the time, so this is probably all new vehicles.
From what I remember driving past (public road on left of image) and catching a few glimpses through the trees, the 2 areas of dark vehicles I've marked were all MOD Military Trucks, Landrovers etc, hence the even colour .

Airfield.JPG (201.01 KiB) Viewed 700 times

Way back in the summer of '77, a friend of mine brought a new Hillman Avenger, heavily discounted because it was the old hockey stick rear light shape, which ceased production late '76, when the range was updated/rebadged to Chrysler Avenger.
He spent weeks going back to the Dealer for a front rumble above 50mph.
Dealer tried all sorts, including changing the front brake drums in case they were misshapen.
Eventually they realised what it was.
Flat spots on all the tyres from standing around for about 8-9 months.