looking for an FE# plate

[mniwagn]

looking for an FE# for a october built mk1 shell thanks smurf@com-pair.net

[Pete]

Why ? It's gonna belong to another car anyway why stick it on your own ?

Seems to be a more common thing swapping FE plates, baffles me (well it makes perfect sense if someone faking a car)

Just curious....

[MissKittyWoo]

How can replacing an FE number be faking a car??

Every one knows that an FE number means nothing to DVLA for verifying a vehicle's identity.

Sometimes they will have been removed if the car has had a front end repair in bygone days when people didn't care about chassis numbers let alone FE numbers.

Am sure these people have a legitimate reason for wanting one. For those wanting their repaired cars to look correct, an FE number will complete the look, they look naked without it.

[Pete]

Ouch, easy tiger(s) ! Step away from the handbags !

I was just curious in why you want an FE plate, I wasn't suggesting YOU wanted to fake up a car, merely that the only time I've seen someone stick another car's FE number on their own it was to make the shell appear a different age, which does make sense just not my scene. As you just want one to make your car(s) look complete, that's your thing.Lots of people go to the lengths of finding all the correct date stamps for all of the parts on their Minis too, again not my thing but hey it's s free world !

[JC T ONE]

This probably has a FE plate
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MORRIS-MINOR-MINI ... 4aa51c256a

JC

[Catweazle]

Hello,

in my eyes a car with an FE number plate etc. from another car is definately a non authentic one, like a partial facelifted lady, perhaps "nice" but changed.

Best regards
Catweazle

[mk1]

It's an interesting one this.

A while ago when I did the engine capacity tags (which are co-incedentally still available) we discussed the possibility of making a set of stamps to do FE numbers as well. The main reasons we decided against it was that A) I honestly believe that I would sell 1 every blue flood & therefore the finances didn't stack up & B) Anyone who had lost their original FE number would not know the number they were looking for & would therefore have to make one up, & I didn't think that really made sense.

Shows that I was wrong on at least 1 count doesn't it.

I can sort of see why people would want to replace their missing FE number with a replacement to fill the gap. But I do have to ask the question, does it REALLY Matter THAT much?

[AustinSuperSeven]

Please dont call me names, throw sticks at me or give me a wedgie when i ask this simple question..... why do cars have FE plates and how do they correspond to the vehicle?

[guru_1071]

the FE number is the 'front end' number that is simply the batch count number of that particular assembly - i suppose it allowed the factory to know how many parts had been made to allow for wear in the presses / jigs etc, though i also suspect that it also allowed the factory to know the difference between the amount of front end assemblies made and complete cars that where shipped out the factory - the shortfall would be what was pinched of site

the floor assembly also had a count tag welded to it, but people dont seem to attach as much importance to this

[mk1]

The FE plate is a factory tag that identifies the Front End assembly.

These were assembled prior to the assembly of the body & received inventory tags to identify them in the factory, they can usually be found on the radiator side inner wing above the radiator cowl. They were never officially recorded, but certain people (or should that be a certain person) with a massive amount of diligence & determination has managed to tabulate FE numbers to age any given shell (within a week or two) of when the body was originally assembled in the factory.

[AustinSuperSeven]

Thank you gentlmen
I was going to ask about the floor numbers but Guru has answered it.
I'm lucky as both my cars have FE & floor numbers still intact..... just hope they match the paperwork!!!

[JC T ONE]

boo-

some people can date these by seeing similar built cars but some others can state the exact dates,from some documents
whether these were done unofficially at the factories,i dunno!
funniest twist to this is some fe numbers are actually miles out..

Thanks for posting, I didnt have a clue to this FE "thing" when I started on my GT.

My FE numbers 2 first digits mathced the week it was built, the second 2 digits matched the year, so I thought that was it.
Later I called around to other GT owners, and their numbers were ALL over the place, and NOTHING matched up -
so I was just lucky, that my first 4 digits made sence
I still dont have a clue about the FE number
Also the body number is strange? my car has a L, and I thought that was for Longbridge?
but was told this was not the case, then I asumed it was for LH drive?
but John P, told me he had seen many UK cars with L, so I still dont know what that L is for

[ricardo]

at least u can open yor bonnet at a show,and nobody starts pointing the index finger,,,"ooooo its got no fe number,,!" ha ha

Just for curiosity, most of the Portuguese assembled from cars from 63/64 onwards don't have an FE or floor number. Mine is one of them.
I was already pointed that out (missing plates, bla bla bla), but that's the way they were and I prefer to preserve it like that than to stick another shell numbers to make it look right... and incorrect.

[guru_1071]

ric

where the porto cars built from a uk shell, or was the shell assembled over there from parts?

id guess if the later, they didnt need to worry so much about the quanties?

[ricardo]

Rich, I would assume the latter as all early shells I've seen have FE and floor numbers (59-63).
IMA (Industria de Montagem Automovel) started in 61 (I believe) and most of the original cars I've seen later than 63 don't have FE and floor numbers.
So, maybe from 63/64 the shells were also assembled here from parts, but I don't know the answer for sure. Or maybe targetted shells as export didn't have those numbers from a certain date? Would be interesting to know from other country's cars.
All front panels have body numbers, but some are in a small tag like English cars and others have the numbers stamped directly in the panel. Again, don't know the criteria on the different types.

[mk1]

My new project has both FE & Floor numbers, the only snag is that they are in a plastic bag in the history folder.

[L7MAD]

Hello, I have a 1966 Austin Cooper that I'm starting to restore - just out of interest where might I find the floor number, it has an FE number, so that I can look through the numerous layers of patches on patches for it

Regards Paul.

[mk1]

The floor number is usually spot welded to the drivers side foot well.

These go missing with annoying regularity due to the driver bringing water & salt into the car on his feet.

[codriver]

Interesting subject, seems to have hit a few nerves. To add another cat among pigeons, I have a 1964 car which is in a genuine BMC replacement shell (chocolate brown primer and all that) this is without an FE plate, no evidence to show that one was fitted to it either.

best not open me bonnet then

[AustinSuperSeven]

Not to add to the already confusion could i list all the plates and bits on floorpans i found on my 62's and could someone clarify their identity?
FE number
NMP on front slam plate?
Small plate on bulkhead stamped with numbers?
Plates similar to FE plate on both front floorpans?
And a small bolt with a welded flat top going through front floor pans (both sides)?
I will try to add pictures of the above soon.

Mark.... i know you do so much on this forum, but could we start an area that lists all abbreviations and their meanings?... for example NOS, CKD, Sprint etc?
I would gladly contribute my small amount of knowledge
Thanks to all
George