Help needed to decode a VIN

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whitebuffalo
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Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by whitebuffalo »

I have a friend who is wanting to buy a Mini that looks to be an early car, but the VIN plate looks a little off , perhaps a guru here can help?
The plate is as follows : 64 MA2S3L 31126

I know it is a Morris 2 door, but can't figure out the 3L or the 64 part of this VIN. Any one have an idea?
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by guru_1071 »

the '3' would be mk3 elf or hornet

the 'l' would be left hand drive

sounds like a bit of home stamping has been going on?
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by whitebuffalo »

I knew something was funny with it! The car is definitely a early MKI since there are no visible recesses for the windscreens and most other parts of the car are usual to early MKI cars. Thanks for the information!
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by Simon776 »

Isn't M/A2S3 a Morris Minor chassis number prefix?
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by whitebuffalo »

Yes it is. It's the other parts of the plate that are funky like the "64" at the beginning and the '3L' at the end. I will post a pic once I get it loaded up.
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by bpirie1000 »

think this link might assist yourself with de-coding.

cheers.

http://www.minimania.com/web/DisplayID/ ... ticleV.cfm
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by whitebuffalo »

Thanks, that worked a treat, however, with that the VIN would show the car to "be" a 2 door Morris MkIII Elf or Hornet. :?:
Here is what the car looks like as well as the VIN plate:
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by ricardo »

The numbers don't seem to be original.
Also isn't it an incorrect type of plate for the car? Looks like the plate was made at best in 1965, not an early plate.
Would point to home stamping too.
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by whitebuffalo »

Yes, that is what I thought, but wanted some "professional" input. The sequential numbers are not even and of different sizes so that made me wonder what game was being played.
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by whitebuffalo »

Ok, not sure if this would help to get the real VIN of the car , but the commission number is BMK 24129. The body number is FE51086. Any idea of what era the car is from? Would Heritage be able to get me the correct VIN with these numbers?
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by Simon776 »

The BMK number is the Body Number, the FE Number is the FE Number which is from Q2 1960. Heritage should be able to get you a chassis number from the BMK number.
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by YMJ »

What strikes me is not that the plate is obviously a homemade job (note the amateur job of the stamping, letters/numbers out of line, etc) but the fact that anyone would want to do this in 1965?
In those days, most garages would post you an MOT certificate for a dozen eggs and the Vehicle Licensing Authority would send you a nice new logbook if you could spell and asked nicely :D
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Re: Help needed to decode a VIN

Post by nick@dunsdale »

nice tight shut lines on the bonnet of that mini

hate when the bonnet sticks out past the wings grr
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