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Hello , I am new here ( my first post ) , I am looking at purchasing 1958 100-6 ( that is in poor condition ) . The body tag is on the firewall but the vin tag is gone . Do all big Healeys have the vin stamped on the right side shock support ? I would be bringing this Healey in from another state ( that does not title older cars ) and I need the vin number for North Carolina DMV . Thanks in advance for your help .
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Vin on right shock support
- Thread starter wolf
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Randy Forbes
Yoda
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Hi Wolf, welcome.
On a BN4, like my own BN6, there is a chassis number on the RH/FR shock mount. This is not the same number as the <span style="text-decoration: underline">V</span>ehicle <span style="text-decoration: underline">I</span>dentification <span style="text-decoration: underline">N</span>umber (VIN).
It may be possible (I do not know) for BMIHT to cross-reference the chassis number to obtain the VIN; from this, you could get a new plate stamped.
Here's the number on my car, as an example:
On a BN4, like my own BN6, there is a chassis number on the RH/FR shock mount. This is not the same number as the <span style="text-decoration: underline">V</span>ehicle <span style="text-decoration: underline">I</span>dentification <span style="text-decoration: underline">N</span>umber (VIN).
It may be possible (I do not know) for BMIHT to cross-reference the chassis number to obtain the VIN; from this, you could get a new plate stamped.
Here's the number on my car, as an example:
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Putzkes-FAHRSPASS
Member
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I think only the later BJ7 and BJ8 have the whole VIN on the rigth tower stampt in.
Mr.JAJA
Mr.JAJA
ahealey1004
Senior Member
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I went through almost the same thing a few years ago in NC so maybe I can help. I lived in Winston-Salem NC for 10 years before moving to AZ, and had purchased a bn4 on a bill of sale only. The seller had lost the title long ago. And the car was lacking the vin plate but did have the body # plate, just like yours. I emailed the Heritage Center, paid the fee and ordered a Heritage Certificate, and they traced the body number and was able to provide me with the correct car/chassis number. I then took my Moss reproduction vin plate blank to the local WS locksmith on Trade Street (they use stamps to stamp keys), they stamped the plate using the car/chassis number provided by the Heritage Center for all of $1 or so (I think they charged me 10 cents a letter!), and I had everything I needed to obtain a “bonded title”. I affixed the plate to the firewall, then purchased an indemnity bond underwritten by my local insurance agent (State Farm). I think it was less than $100. Then scheduled an appointment with an NC DMV agent, who actually made a house-call and inspected my non-running bn4 in my garage. He looked at the car for 5 minutes, took a few photos, verified the vin # on the firewall, and filled out some paperwork. Then within a few months I was issued a clean NC title. It was pretty painless.
Hope that helps!
Austin
Hope that helps!
Austin
Randy Forbes
Yoda
Offline
The stamp on a 100 shock mount *should* be similar to the one on my car (100/6) shown above.
As Udo says, only the last model (or two) put the entire VIN on the shock mount.
Example of a BJ8 stamp:
As Udo says, only the last model (or two) put the entire VIN on the shock mount.
Example of a BJ8 stamp:
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BJ8Healeys
Jedi Warrior
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The VIN number is stamped on the outboard side of the right front shock absorber mounting tower -- but only on BJ8s, as far as I know. My BJ8 has the number, but my BJ7 does not.
Any BJ8 owner who finds a number here is invited to let me know, because, as the BJ8 Model Registrar, I am very interested in it. The number is frequently illegible with paint on the surface, unfortunately.
There is another number on the shock tower, as illustrated by Randy Forbes's photo of a BN6, but that number is not recorded in the BMIHT archives and therefore cannot be crossed by BMIHT to the chassis number of a car. This is pure speculation on my part, but this number could be the sequential number applied to the chassis by Jensen Motors for tracking purposes as each was constructed. This number on my car is 212 (with the last "2" overstamped with a "9"). This could represent the 212th (or 219th) chassis built in batch 3223, which is approximately correct, since batch 3223 begins around body 81291, and my car is body 81544. There are around 500 chassis in each BJ8 batch. I am not sure if the "sequential" number was assigned in sequence with the body numbers, but a little more data for other cars might help to determine that.
Any BJ8 owner who finds a number here is invited to let me know, because, as the BJ8 Model Registrar, I am very interested in it. The number is frequently illegible with paint on the surface, unfortunately.
There is another number on the shock tower, as illustrated by Randy Forbes's photo of a BN6, but that number is not recorded in the BMIHT archives and therefore cannot be crossed by BMIHT to the chassis number of a car. This is pure speculation on my part, but this number could be the sequential number applied to the chassis by Jensen Motors for tracking purposes as each was constructed. This number on my car is 212 (with the last "2" overstamped with a "9"). This could represent the 212th (or 219th) chassis built in batch 3223, which is approximately correct, since batch 3223 begins around body 81291, and my car is body 81544. There are around 500 chassis in each BJ8 batch. I am not sure if the "sequential" number was assigned in sequence with the body numbers, but a little more data for other cars might help to determine that.
BJ8Healeys
Jedi Warrior
Offline
The really iteresting thing about the number on the shock tower in Randy's photo(HBJ8L41788) [look closely at the numbers, now] is that the car has the factory-issued VIN plate with the number HBJ8L417<span style="text-decoration: underline">7</span>8.
The car also has the body number corresponding to 41788. Apparently, a mistake was made in the VIN by the factory when they applied the wrong number plate to the firewall.
The car also has the body number corresponding to 41788. Apparently, a mistake was made in the VIN by the factory when they applied the wrong number plate to the firewall.
BoyRacer
Jedi Warrior
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We have a valuable resource and the probable answer to this question in Bill Bolton. For many years he has maintained the tri-carb registry, and he has always requested the four digit number stamped on the shock tower, along with all the other info he requests.
Being a member of this registry with a MK II BN7 (not my race car), I am privy to the registry list. Many on this registry have provided the frame # along with the other info, my self included. So Bill has a list of cars with VIN numbers, body numbers and frame numbers all in chronological order.
Since I was sworn to secrecy 25 years ago when I joined his list, I cannot divulge any of this information to this forum, BUT - maybe we can persuade Bill to help us out here.
Being a member of this registry with a MK II BN7 (not my race car), I am privy to the registry list. Many on this registry have provided the frame # along with the other info, my self included. So Bill has a list of cars with VIN numbers, body numbers and frame numbers all in chronological order.
Since I was sworn to secrecy 25 years ago when I joined his list, I cannot divulge any of this information to this forum, BUT - maybe we can persuade Bill to help us out here.
aircool911
Freshman Member
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Hi, I am new to this forum, I just purchased a BN6? in very sad shape. This vin tag is missing but the batch and body number are still on the firewall. DOes anyone have a picture, or can I be directed to a picture of where the vin is located on the shock tower. I am reading a lot of description on the board but they really dont make sense to a newbie like me, a picture would help. Also where is the engine number located. I have seen several pics of engine numbers on the web, but they are close shots and don't really indicate where on the engine they are located. I have restored several german and american cars, and have owned two TR6s, but this is my first Healey. Pics always help to get the job done. thanks a bunch, Bob
BJ8Healeys
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Here is a photo of the VIN stamped into the right front shock tower of a BJ8. I know only about BJ8s, but previous discussion has said that earlier models do not have a number stamped here.
The 3000 engine serial number is as shown.
To find out the original VIN that belongs to your BN6 batch/body plate, you will probably have to contact the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (https://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/archive-services/). For BJ8s, I can very probably identify the original chassis number that goes with a given batch/body number.
