Mystery chassis plate

Post by **Ian Grace** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:34 pm

Here's another odd one. This chassis plate has just turned up on a November 1931 (1932 season) Minor. The engine number of 10198 looks about right for the date, but the chassis number is quoted as 0279 - and looks original. I have three problems with this. First, the car number should be nearer 9000, second it has a leading zero, which I have not seen on early Minors with three-digit chassis numbers before and lastly, the car number is stamped onto the plate - not engraved. All of the plates I have seen have had the car number engraved - the thought being that boxes of numbered, engraved plates were supplied to the production line, the number was then stamped on the new chassis to match and the chassis plate wired to the scuttle as the car went down the line. When an engine was selected from the pile, its number was stamped onto the plate.

Any thoughts anyone?