Vehicle Identification

[Jcagle]

Hello! I have a question that hopefully someone here can help me with. I recently received an Austin Healey that my mother-in-law would like me to try to restore. She is under the impression that it is a 1964, but I don't think this is correct from some of the research that I have done. I think that the VIN plate is gone (since I can't seem to find it attached to the body) and the only info that I can find is what appears to be the "chassis code." I'm not entirely sure that this is what I have found, but maybe someone here can help me out. The code that I have is on the firewall, centered under the hood: 3040BT7 L (next line) 7641. Can anyone use this code to tell me any specifics on the year and specific model? Thanks in advance!

 

[pan]

Hello Jcagle,
The code that you have included in your post contains the letters BT followed by the number 7.
This indicates a certain model of Austin-Healey 3000, the Mark II. It should feature removable side windows on the doors and a soft top that, when lowered folds behind the small seat back at the rear of the 2+2 seat cockpit.
It would be earlier than 1964 as that model was superseded by the Mark II BJ7 in mid 1962.
A car that is well worth restoring!

 

[BJ8Healeys]

Hi, Jcagle -

Assuming that the body plate you have found with the number 3040BT7 L 7641 is original to the car, there are two possible ways you can determine the VIN:
1. Contact the BT7 registrar (Bob Haskell, for non-tricarb BT7s: rchaskell@earthlink.net; Bill Bolton, for tricarb cars: tricarb@aol.com). The appropriate registrar might have a record of the car. A "tricarb" is an engine with three carburetors, instead of the usual two.
2. Contact the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust: https://tinyurl.com/8q2
The link will take you to the page for ordering a certificate using only the body number. The certificate will have all of the original manufacturing details recorded for the car that left the factory with body 3040BT7 L 7641. If you contact BMIHT using the "Contact Us" button, they may even look up the VIN for you without ordering the certificate.

 

[Jcagle]

Thank you, both, for your responses! I'm really looking forward to restoring this BT7 and interacting more with the community!