Morris Minor Owners Club

Does someone know how to get the exact date of manufacture for FBA13/404700 without payning the ugly sum of 28 pounds?

I can give you a rough date (within a couple of weeks) if you can wait a few hours for me to drive back home...............

that'll be lovely, hopefully this is the right chassisnumber, cus all it says under the bonnet is 404700.

Between May 1955 and May 1956

Willie wrote:Between May 1955 and May 1956

Thank you, but still, that's a whole year minus a few months because she was registered 10-02-1956.

Right. your car should have been manufactured between December 55 and Jan 56

At a GUESS........ I would say 14th or 15th December 1955. Obviously this does not take into account production variations from month to month or within months, so it might actually be a few weeks out, but that's the best guess I can give based on the numbers.

Also........... does your chassis number ACTUALLY start with: FBA13/ ? as I guessed at that number based on what you had told us, but have you found it on your car or logbook?

If your car came out of the factory as a black 2-door saloon RHD for the UK market then it will be either FBA13 or FBA11 depending on it's paint finish (Synthetic or Cellulose)

I can't find the original chassisnumber, as my chassisplate is missing, so only 404700 is what i can see. Are there any other places to check this number? My car was restored some years ago, not by me though, so I can't check the paint

Well, it should be stated on your documentation.

Sadly I haven't got any of the original documents, only the new papers when Elisabeth was imported in 1999, so all it says is 404700

Well..... the first 3 letters will be: FBA

The next will be a 1 if the car was a RHD UK car.

The next will be a number between 1 and 6 depending upon what paint was originally used on the car.

I'm guessing a 1 or a 3 but perhaps some other owners of '55/'56 cars can tell us what their numbers are? Then we can piece it together!

My Elisabeth was an original Home RHD model, and most likely to be black originally as she has the complementary red interoir, wich is still part original, Sadly I can't check out any detalis on the car, as she 's currentle undergoing her birthdaypresent. All my transportation relies on a 1964 Union sport-o-matic 47cc moped

the level of knowledge on this message board never ceases to amaze me. i was waiting for CAM to say that the wheels were fitted by a Mr. Alf Nungent and he always had spam and pickle sandwiches on a Tuesday

I'm guessing a 1 or a 3 but perhaps some other owners of '55/'56 cars can tell us what their numbers are? Then we can piece it together!

Well my traveller is FLE11 but maybe not to relevant as it's not a saloon ;-)

That's great Ray. I am assuming that saloons and travellers were painted in the same type of paint at the same time.

If so, then Onne's chassis number should be: FBA11/404700

guydenning wrote:the level of knowledge on this message board never ceases to amaze me. i was waiting for CAM to say that the wheels were fitted by a Mr. Alf Nungent and he always had spam and pickle sandwiches on a Tuesday

Ah yes, but only when facing east and wearing a red hat!

. I am assuming that saloons and travellers were painted in the same type of paint at the same time.

I would be more nervous about that assumption as they are a different animal really - best to try one of the guys with a 55/56 saloon before being more sure, but it's a good start anyway.

That's great guys! I have to know for sure though, because i've ordered a new chassisplate as mine is missing, and it would be nice to have the correct number... Do any of you know anyone wtith such a car?

ops sorry for questioning it Cam - SR has FBA11 on his 55 black 2 door saloon, so you were spot on.

rayofleamington wrote:ops sorry for questioning it Cam - SR has FBA11 on his 55 black 2 door saloon, so you were spot on.

I can now let my chassisplate be numbered as FBA11/404700 I am a happy man!

Sounds like you've got this one sorted now...but I can further confirm the "FBA11" prefix.

For my sins, I own two 1955 black two door saloons - one registered 4/3/55 with chassis number FBA11/316*** and the other registered exactly seven months later, on 4/10/55, with chassis number FBA11/364***.

So almost rolled of the line next to elisabeth1 mine is FBA11/385***