Tracing history, 3.8FHC

[Onespeed]

Hello all.

I'm restoring a series 1 FHC, 860926. The car was brought to Australia, but originally a U.K. Delivery to Flockharts in Ascot via Henlys. The original owner was a D Watkin Jones of Ascot. The original registration mark was 5 CJB.

At some point the car made its way to Australia, and was painted red with black interior (originally cream with dark blue interior).

I'm trying to find out more about the car, especially it's UK history and the time it was sent to Australia. I've worked backwards from the previous owner but the trail goes completely cold around 1995.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and kind regards,

Rohan.

[abowie]

I've not had a lot of luck with the US cars I've owned. It may be that cars from the UK are more traceable; one of the many Poms on the board will know.
I've had a look at your car on XKE Data; looks almost as big a job as my new project . How far have you got so far?
If you need advice or help trying to track down parts feel free to contact me. I'm in Adelaide, but I have a few contacts and access to a collection of bits that may be useful.

Cheers.

AB

[cactusman]

I tried the rev no on the MOT checker here in the uk. Does not come up suggesting it is not on the DVLA system so was exported a while back. Depending on when it was exported it might be worth applying to the DVLA in Swansea for details of former owners. You need form V888 and a fiver. They will send back any information they have but only to the registered keeper so if the car is no longer registered here in the UK you may get zilch. You can try calling them on 0300 790 6802 .....you would need to add the international dialling code so probably 0044 300 790 6802 .If you get lucky they will send back copies of ownership changes etc back to when the car registrations here were unified under the dept of transport, now the DVLA. In practice this is back to the late seventies. Before then registrations were issued by counties and most of the old county records are long gone. If you know the county where the car was registered you could always write to the county council and ask. They may still have them (unlikely) or they may know where they may have gone...bin, shredder, bonfire, local history museum etc...a very long shot but you might get lucky. The reg number letters will indicate the issuing office....these used to listed in AA membership books etc. 5 CJB suggests it was registered in Berkshire from Sept 1962. See here
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registra ... etters.htm

[mgcjag]

Hi Rohan...is tbus the one...http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=860926

[Onespeed]

Hi Rohan...is tbus the one...http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=860926

Yes that's the one. Things have progressed, but only a little!

[Onespeed]

I tried the rev no on the MOT checker here in the uk. Does not come up suggesting it is not on the DVLA system so was exported a while back. Depending on when it was exported it might be worth applying to the DVLA in Swansea for details of former owners. You need form V888 and a fiver. They will send back any information they have but only to the registered keeper so if the car is no longer registered here in the UK you may get zilch. You can try calling them on 0300 790 6802 .....you would need to add the international dialling code so probably 0044 300 790 6802 .If you get lucky they will send back copies of ownership changes etc back to when the car registrations here were unified under the dept of transport, now the DVLA. In practice this is back to the late seventies. Before then registrations were issued by counties and most of the old county records are long gone. If you know the county where the car was registered you could always write to the county council and ask. They may still have them (unlikely) or they may know where they may have gone...bin, shredder, bonfire, local history museum etc...a very long shot but you might get lucky. The reg number letters will indicate the issuing office....these used to listed in AA membership books etc. 5 CJB suggests it was registered in Berkshire from Sept 1962. See here
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registra ... etters.htm

Thanks for that. I started filling out the V888 but, from what I know of it's history, it was first registered in Australia in 1968 so there may not be much point. Thanks for the advice, I've sent an email off to West Berkshire. You never know your luck.

Interestingly from what I can gather, the car was sold by Ron Flockhart's dealership in Ascot. He tragically died not more than 30 km from where I live in Melbourne, Australia in an aeroplane accident (flying a P51 Mustang).

[cactusman]

1968 will be long before the records were brought under the aegis of what is now the DVLA....guess you could always call them just in case. Good luck with your research. Berkshire may come up trumps but apparently many old records just got dumped. Who knows.....someone else on here may see the post and fill in the gap from 1962 to 1968 when she emigrated if you are a member of any of the UK clubs, JDC, JEC or the E type club (hope you are an E type club member) household always pop some sort of ad or article in the magazine.

The MG owners club magazine now has a specific section for those seeking info on long lost motors....no use for e types but I always look down the lists just in case someone out there is asking about my MG.