Re: Engine number and number on bonnet flange. The stamping on the Ford engines (mine is a 1971 4/4 also with 711M 1600 block) is rarely a good clear stamping and quite often gets machined away if subsequent work has been done. My understanding is that because the bonnets were manufactured specifically for each car, they had the last few digits of the engine number stamped to ensure they were returned to the correct car after spraying. The engine number ticket label was the most visible number to the MMC build team. The chassis number at this time would have been covered by the seats and not so visible. The wooden body also had a number which was stamped on the inner face of rear wooden body frame
and/or spare wheel area; & also the rear of the dashboard.
I hope this helps.
Mike (4/4 4str 1971)
