I looked on the 60 and didn't see it. I looked on the 65 and it is there, right
behind the shock on the mounting plate.
Wiedemeyer wrote:
> Everyone's been talking about the serial # being stamped on the front of the
> right front shock tower (although I've not been able to find it on any of my
> '63s), so you might try looking here for the definitive # for your car.
>
> Bob
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Hill <richard.hill@sri.com>
> To: spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Date: Monday, June 12, 2000 12:09 PM
> Subject: My '60 might be a '58!
>
> >We were filling out the form for the Heritage certificate last night for
> our
> >Bugeye and found some interesting discrepancies on the numbers. There are
> 4
> >numbers on the Bugeye body that should be close -- not the same, but at
> >least close. Our VIN is AN5L31698 (January 1960) while the numbers on both
> >door posts (and the engine, actually) are in the 27400 range. I had always
> >assumed someone changed the VIN for some reason and our car was really made
> >in late '59 (corresponding to the 27400 range). However, the fourth
> number,
> >and the only number not held on by screws, is the one stamped into the body
> >on the top of the passenger footwell. On our car, that number is 5180.
> >Horler says this was most likely stamped when the body shells were produced
> >and is close to the car number. 5180 and 31698 are obviously nowhere
> close!
> >5180 would put the date of manufacture at around October '58. This does
> >explain a few things about our car -- the apparent original primrose yellow
> >paint (discontinued early '59), the lack of the big rubber standoffs on top
> >of the inner fenders (added around car number 6000), and the long door
> >handles. Turns out the door post numbers (and the VIN of course) are held
> >on by screws and one of them (the right door post) has one phillips and one
> >flathead -- someone's been playing with numbers!
> >
> >I don't think any serious (i.e., front clip) bodywork has been done on this
> >car. I've looked but haven't found any evidence.
> >
> >So, is there a definite way of determining if the body is a '58?
> >
> >How close should the number stamped into the body be to the VIN?
> >
> >Horler mentions a tooling hole in the rear crossmember added at about car
> >6000 -- what am I looking for there?
> >
> >The change from 9 stud windshield to 2 was around car 5500 (more or less).
> >Ours has two studs, but any bolt on pieces could have been changed (hey,
> >someone changed the numbers!).
> >
> >Unfortunately, it looks like most of the early changes (box section behind
> >the seats, etc.) were worked out before car # 5000 so those won't help.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Rich Hill
> >'58 AH Sprite (we think -- it was a '60 until yesterday)
> >'79 MG Midget (completely sure of that!)
> >
> >p.s. if it is a '58 now we have one from the first and last year of
> >Sprite/Midget production
|