Identification

[smordue]

Okay, so I had one MG 74+ car, and I went out and got a MG 73, a Sprite 65 and a sprite 67, so now I have four rust buckets cluttering my garage, needless to say, wife is not thrilled. Anyway, the 65 AH VIN plate says ABL 042566, I cannot find this code anywhere, anyone got any ideas?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

That sounds like the body tub number

 

[kcbugeye1275]

If you want to start rebuilding, you have hit the jackpot. The block of your 74, if you look at the area above the center main could be solid, if so it is the best fo the blocks available. The late head is also easier to put larger valves in. Lastly, the crank in the 67 is the better crank. You do not have a bunch of junk. Priceless treasures. Enjoy.

 

[Biff]

That is the body number not the VIN number. Look at the right front shock mounting plate and the VIN# should be stamped there just behind the shock. Or look at the passenger floor just in front of the crossmember and it may be stamped there. I forget when they changed the location of the 'hidden' VIN #. You should find it in one of these two places.

 

[drooartz]

The block of your 74, if you look at the area above the center main could be solid, if so it is the best fo the blocks available.

Can you explain this a bit more? I've got a late block as well, and curious if it fits your description.

 

[racingenglishcars]

I thought the best block to use was the A+ ??

 

[smordue]

You guys are right that is a body code not a chassis number, I cannot find anything on the shock tower area and the floors are gone. Any physical clues?

 

[racingenglishcars]

That car might be too old to have the number stamped on the shock mount plate. In which case it isn't any place on the car.
Correction, maybe. My BE had the chassis number written in yellow crayon on the back of the dash. Apparently this was standard practice back then.