Morris Minor Owners Club

MM Traveller 406XPG first saw the light of day in Surrey in March 1962. Last known to be in the Lower Beeding area, nr Horsham, prior to taking a sustained rest. On re-emerging in 2007 there was no way to substantiate her registration and has accordingly been issued an age-related alternative.
I would dearly love to reunite her with her original number and wonder if there is anyone out there who might be able to assist with evidence. Does anyone know this car at any stage in its history? All help greatly appreciated
Andrew

All help greatly appreciated
Andrew

The gaydon heritage museum will help, I think you need to supply the chassis number etc.

http://archive.heritage-motor-centre.co ... cates.html

I think DVLA allow this as proof of original number.

Thanks for this suggestion Dean - The traveller does have an heritage certificate but the cert copy of factory record, under additional info states - 'the registration mark 406 XPG (quoted by you) was issued in Surry' - so DVLA don't take much notice of it.
Am really keen to reunite this car with its birth plate and wonder if there is any evidence I can get to support this. Is it worth trying to find out who were the BMC dealers in Surrey in March 1962 and if so anyone out there with this info?
Andrew

Unfortunately, a lot of the large dealerships from that era have closed. 4 of our cars were supplied to Stewart & Ardern who had dealerships all around the London area, but only one states (Acton) so we know exactly which garage it went to. The factory logs often just simply state the dealer and "London" so that's all Heritage have to go on.

Do you have any old MOTs or tax discs that show the original number plate?

I was able to get the lowlights number back after it being issued with an age related as there was a 1973 MOT and tax disc, and the bulid date on the heritage certificate was within days of the first registration. Added to this OPE was only issued for a few months in 1950. All these details were submitted via the v765 scheme with the DVLA, the car also had to be inspected by a club official.

So dont give up hope on not getting it back, but be prepared for it to take a while!

Thanks for these suggestions David but no paper history remains- I do have the original numberplates and photographic record of them on the car prior to restoration - but this is regarded as weak evidence only. I am still trying to contact previous owners but it is proving a frustrating task!
Regards Andrew

Hi - another pester!
Any one know why the DVLA could not have just allowed the traveller to keep the original number but make it non-transferable?
Am continuing to draw blanks on establishing history. Ironically the age related substitute is quite close to the car's original!
Andrew

Reason being is that they aren't sure that it is the same car. Therefore cannot put same plate on it.

Also, if its pre-computerised they have no record of what the plate should be, so they wont do owt incase you are making it up

But Dan, what difference does it make to the DVLA whether they give me one 'spare' non-transferrable number than another? They could allocate me the 'original' number on the same basis that it can't be transferred as easily as the similar spare number that they have picked- Is it worth my while following this up with them?
Andrew

DVLA wont budge on this unless there is some documentary proof. Ie tax disc, insurance certificate, original bill of sale, old green log book etc. I had a friend who had a photocopy of the old log book and they wouldnt accept it. He eventually traced an original owner who amazingly still had a couple of old tax discs in his garage. It took two further years and owners club intervention to retain it.

They dont want to get into a situation where they have issued a non transferrable number to a car without any documents whatsoever and then find someone else has another car with the documents.

Depending on where it was originally registered some local council record offices still have vehicle records. It takes a lot of research to access this though and once youve found it they may still refuse you unless the engine / body numbers match exactly or they are not satisfied at the inspection.

Thanks for this explanation- now fully understood. Traveller first registered in Surrey