What year is my Traveller???

[ericthered]

Hi all,

a couple of weeks ago I bought a Traveller that was advertised as 1964, BUT, it has a pre suffex reg no that it has had from new (773 WYA), a 1098cc engine from new, it has got flashing side lights/brake lights (no yellow flashers), and an old style round heater.

The car is original and I have all the paper work (1 lady owner till 2002), the docs say its first reg was 1964, but that should be a "B" reg (or "A"?), and the paperwork going right back over the years says 1964, everything is right with the car except the first reg date on the docs, I think it is an early 1098cc from 1962.

If it was sat in a show room or something for a year or two it would get a suffex reg when first put on the road, not a reg from the year it was made!

Any thoughts?

Best wishes,
Eric.

[LouiseM]

You should be able to tell the year it was built from the chassis number.

1962: Chassis number 990290 to 1005482 (for 1098cc cars from 17 September 1962)

1964: Chassis number 1051386 to 1092769

Perhaps it was exported when first sold and re-imported in 1964 (hence the date first registered showing as 1964) and then registered with an age related registration number?

[chrisryder]

not all areas adopted the suffix reg straight away. i think it was only universally adopted by 1965. So depending where in the country it was registered, it could have ended up with a suffix, or a non-suffix reg.

[ericthered]

Hi and thanks for the replys and info, the chassis no is 1041557, would that make it an early 1963?

thanks and regards,
Eric.

[Alex'n'Ane]

Surely that would make it a late 63, hence it was not first registered untill 64.

[ericthered]

I would agree but the cars spec is all 1962, is it not?

Best wishes,
Eric.

[Alex'n'Ane]

The later sidelights were changed until October '63 so that fits in with it being a lateish 63 car. I'm not sure when the heaters changed over, but its quite possible the heater in the car is not the same as the one it originally had anyway. Does the car have 'clap-hand' wipers or the later type which both sweep in the same direction?

[ericthered]

Hi,

It has the "clap hand" wipers, although it has a round heater it has the fresh air vent below it thats operated by a pull knob on the parcel shelf, I really dont think it has ever been changed and no paperwork to say so.

I dont know why but I like the idea of it being 1962, its certainly not made in 64, perhaps as it means its 50th birthday will be next year! lol

Best wishes,
Eric.

[ASL642]

Hi, my Traveller is a '62 - built 6.6.62 first reg 13.7.62. She has clap hands, had a round heater (now replaced) and the white switch under the dash for the fresh ar vent. I can only suggest that your car was built, perhaps for an overseas purchaser, this order was then cancelled, so the car was sent to a holding pen for a while before it was requisitioned by a dealer for sale. Or it was actually sent abroad and then returned in 64 as has been previously suggested.

We have a car that originally had a export order invoice which was cancelled. The car was sent to a holding area before being sent to a main dealer for sale.

[LouiseM]

the chassis no is 1041557, would that make it an early 1963?

No, it would make it a late '63 - probably October.

Traveller chassis number 1040520 (Sept/Oct '63) was the first to have the 2.8kw fresh air heater introduced as a kit, with air intake incorporated into the radiator cowl. It also had a redesigned screen washer system and an external key operated lock fitted to the left hand door.

Traveller chassis number 1043226 (Oct '63) was the first to have tandem wipers instead of 'clap hands' and an extra round amber light was fitted to rear.

So your traveller chassis number is in between these two changes. I'd guess it was possibly built the first wednesday in October And as it was coming up to Christmas and people were probably a bit strapped for cash it's quite possible that it didn't get sold until the new year. What colour is it? Perhaps it was one of the less popular ones and didn't fly out of the showroom like other travellers might have done?

So you'll have to wait a bit longer for it's 50th birthday but if you want to find out its exact date of manufacture send for a heritage certificate. Details here:

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=39205


PS: I got the info from Ray Newell's book - I'm not a Minor 'anorak'!

[ericthered]

Thanks for that, I'm going to get one, I think all the replys have cleared things up though, but I will get one just to see whats what as I intend on keeping the car and like history and info.

with any luck the car should be restored in 4 to 6 months.

Thanks to all for the help and info.

Best wishes,
Eric.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

If you order a Heritage Certificate this will give you exact build dates for your car and were it was despatched to.

http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ ... t_id=29782