What year is Midget

[Spitfire791500]

My son and I have started restoring a 69? 70? Midget and have run into some contradictions on the year.

It is registered as a 69 and the chassis number starts out GAN4 which is for 69 but, the last 6 digits are over 74886 which is supposed to be the beginning of the 70 model year. It would probably have been in the last day of production for the 69 model year or the first day of the 1970 model year, it is that close.

Is this abnormality common?

Some parts of the car are consistent with 69 and some with 70.

I know this is not a big deal I have owned a Sprite for 36 years and have worn it out and restored it twice
but it is kinda interesting.


Spitfire791500

 

[recordsj]

you can take a look at a moss catalog (www.mossmotors.com) or victoria british catalog (www.victoriabritish.com) which has details on serial number breaks for cars going to which years.

 

[Whitephrog]

So what is the complete VIN?

 

[jlaird]

And yes they built em with what they had on hand.

 

[Spitfire791500]

The VIN is GAN4U 75942

 

[jlaird]

First car built in Jan 1970 was GAN5-81049

First car built in Sep. 1969 was GAN5-74886

So 6163 cars built that four month period.

That works to 50.5 per day.

So I would say Sept 20th 1969 or so build.

 

[Whitephrog]

So, if GAN4 is correct, Horler was off by at least 56 vehicles in his production numbers.

 

[jlaird]

Don't forget lots of days off around December.