Morris minor saloon OWC 91

[silverdorking]

I have recently restored this '60 2 door saloon which was offered generously on the free to members messaging board. I attach before and after images for info. I am posting in the faint hope that someone may know of this vehicle in its earlier life and possibly have some valid evidence of identity which might persuade dvla to allow retention of this original registration.
Thanks in anticipation for any help available![frame][/frame]

[POMMReg]

What's the problem with DVLA?

[silverdorking]

It is unknown to them, ie not on their data base and I've not got any associative paperwork, eg old log book, tax discs or insurance docs!

[LouiseM]

If you need to provide the DVLA with confirmation of the date of manufacture Rob Thomasson (the MMOC technical tips man) should be able to help. His contact details are in Minor Matters.

[silverdorking]

Thanks Louise, I've already had good advice from Rob. He tells me that if I'm to keep the original registration I'll need to provide some evidence in support. Hence my request for anyone who might have some knowledge of the car's history to get in touch. A vain hope possibly!

[Dean]

Could you not ask for the DVLA history on your current OWC 91 registration plate?

This should give a name, address and date of when this reg plate was first put on the Minor.

It's a long shot, but with a name and address, they may still live there or at least with a name it would narrow down the search.

You may find, if the number is catchy it is still on a car somewhere. Possibly still with the same family if it was a relatively recent change.

[POMMReg]

First course of action is to narrow down the date of the vehicle - do this via the chassis/body number.

Contact Essex Records Office to see whether they have detail of it in their records, sometimes the
chassis number is also quoted.

BMIHT certificates are okay to a certain degree, but vehicles DID get transferred to other dealerships.

[LouiseM]

You're in luck!

The Essex Records Office holds details of registrations from OWC 1 - 999, which were issued in 1962:

http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_detai ... &id=148210

Seeing as you live quite a way from Chelmsford, where the records are kept, I'll be happy to go there myself and take a look for you as I’ve got a bit of spare time during the week and it will be interesting to do. Let me know if you’d like me to do this.

[silverdorking]

Wow Lousie Thanks very much for your research to date! Do you think the records office will have anything to help validate the number to the car? If so I would love to peruse this further but hesitate to put you to this trouble.
Thanks Andrew

[LouiseM]

Do you think the records office will have anything to help validate the number to the car?

I'm not sure what information they hold but might be worth a look? As the registration was issued in 1962 though it might not even be the original number for your car. How have you dated it to 1960 - from the chassis number?

[silverdorking]

No Louise, I was being lazy with the 60s dating. I'll confirm chassis number and then make a more reliable estimate of date of manufacture. Thanks again for your constructive assistance. If Chelmsford records hold a chassis number, could this be enough to satisfy the DVLA and allow number retention?
Regards Andrew

[LouiseM]

Andrew - pm sent

[IaininTenbury]

A signed or stamped authenticated copy of the original registration records along with the letter from the MMOC (Rob) should be enough for the DVLA. I'm just going through the same process with Dorset council hoping to get JT1029 back for my Hudson Terraplane project (Different car club obviously, but same process!). Fingers crossed!

[silverdorking]

Thanks Ian for these encouraging comments. Louise went to great efforts on my behalf with Chelmsford Records Office, only to discover a recording error. Either the Council or supplying Garage have made a 1 digit mistake in recording chassis number, so unfortunately no proof positive yet.
however I am going to pay a visit to the heritage centre at Gaydon where I intend to try and track both the actual and erroneous chassis numbers, hopefully to confirm different distribution nationally.

Hope your efforts come to successful fruition.
Andrew

[LouiseM]

Hi Andrew - I've still got the photo-copy from the County records so if it would be any help send me your address via pm and I'll post it to you. Good luck at Gaydon