Mike, the first place to start with the VIN is the BT7 registrar. There is
one for Mark I cars (Bob Haskell, rchaskell@earthlink.net) and one for Mark
II tricarbs (Bill Bolton, tricarb@aol.com). The appropriate registrar may
have some information about the VIN.
If the Heritage certificate shows a different original paint color for the
VIN quoted than what is actually obvious from inspection of the car, I would
bet that the VIN plate doesn't belong to that car. It's true that the
Heritage certificates have mistakes on them far too frequently, but the
paint color is not usually a mistake.
Both the VIN and the body plate are only attached with two easily-removed
screws. Once removed, the plates are easily mixed up with others or lost.
If the car has a body plate, does it match on the certificate with the VIN
plate? If it does, that's a good sign, but not conclusive. If not, that's
another clue that the car is not the VIN claimed. Does the engine serial
number and gearbox match the certificate? When dealing with such issues on
BJ8s (which are frequent), I try to determine the serial number of the rear
axle and ignition key lock number. These are less likely to be changed
between cars than other items like engines/gearboxes and I.D. plates. Does
the certificate quote a rear axle number? Unfortunately, in many cases the
certs do not. BMIHT will not do a reverse search for rear axle numbers or
key numbers (key numbers are not unique but common to many cars). For BJ8s,
I have a way around that, but not for other models.
Good luck!
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC USA
-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of m.brouillette@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 10:34 AM
To: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Trying to help someone validate his car.
Gents,
I got a note sent to me from someone overseas that is concerned about
the roots of his car. He bought a BT7 from California and had it shipped to
him. When he started to go through it, the vin tag was in a box of misc
parts and when he ordered his heritage certificate on that vin, it came back
as a different original color that doesn't match what he has in front of
him. I know Heritage Certificates can be wrong once in awhile, but he's
concerned about the background of his car and wants to make sure it was
never stolen.
I want to give him a list of where to look for the serial numbers, but can
only remember the one on the shock tower. Does anyone have a list of where
all the serial numbers can be located, and if I got a serial number from
him, where could I look that car up?
Mike B
59 BT7
_______________________________________________
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
Healeys@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
|