Seeing the recent discussion about Seán's chassis number has reminded me of something that has puzzled me for a while.
I'm aware that two of the common places to find a chassis number are the cross bar under the passenger seat and the inside of the bonnet hinge. I have had both seats out of my car in the past and I know there is no number there, however there is the number 3178 stamped on both bonnet hinges.
Whatever that is, it's definitely not the chassis number (that is B4771 and is on a plate by the tool box). A fellow club member with an '85 4/4 has the same situation - a number stamped on the bonnet hinge which is not a chassis number.
The number on the chassis hinge is either the clock number of the Morgan employee who made the bonnet, or the engine number.
I only know because It was pointed out on one of the Morgan stops during the Nordkapp challenge film, Steve Morris came across a car which had two numbers on the bonnet the engine number and his own clock number indicating that he had made the bonnet.
The number on the chassis hinge is the clock number of the Morgan employee who made the bonnet.
In the video about the North Cape drive, Steve Morris confirms this, also stating (if I remember correctly) that his number was 35.
However there is an exception. When John Bishop was the senior man in the body-shop, he was allowed to stamp his nickname on the hinge. i.e "Basher"
Stanley's bonnet has this stamped. I have attempted to take a photo. The hinge is at the top of the photo. Excuse the lump in the foreground, it is the body of my inspection lamp.
The number on the chassis hinge is the clock number of the Morgan employee who made the bonnet.
In the video about the North Cape drive, Steve Morris confirms this, also stating (if I remember correctly) that his number was 35.
However there is an exception. When John Bishop was the senior man in the body-shop, he was allowed to stamp his nickname on the hinge. i.e "Basher"
Stanley's bonnet has this stamped. I have attempted to take a photo. The hinge is at the top of the photo. Excuse the lump in the foreground, it is the body of my inspection lamp.
I have 'Basher' stamped on my S1 , Aero8
It was pointed out to me by Mark Middleton when he did the annual service back in the Spring;I must say,I had not noticed it before then....
James
Aero8 , Series 1 - Boston Green RR Evoque P300E Autobiography Smart Brabus Convertible Monkey Z125
Engine number so that a newly painted pair of bonnets could be reunited with the correct car after painting. As you may know, bonnets are/were sprayed off the car. Bit of a nightmare if you have two or three sets of bonnets painted the same shade on the drying racks
Mine matches the last four digits of the engine number (which is most probably why that also became my chassis number on formal paperwork for a while).
Engine number so that a newly painted pair of bonnets could be reunited with the correct car after painting. As you may know, bonnets are/were sprayed off the car. Bit of a nightmare if you have two or three sets of bonnets painted the same shade on the drying racks
Arwyn
That's interesting Arwyn, as on my 4/4 I believe the bonnets are a noticeably different blue (Slightly lighter) than the rest of the car. It is not something everyone notices but as the owner I see it. I must check if it matches the Engine number. My car is listed in some places as Bugatti Blue and in others as French Racing Blue. Maybe there was a mix up in the paint shop? Doesn't sound like QC at Morgan though
