Body Number ID Plate

commemorative74 · Post by **commemorative74** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 9:08 pm

I have just recently ordered and taken delivery of some body number ID plates stamped with the correct number on as I have various cars that have them missing for unknown reasons.
One of the cars is a 1973 home market roadster. I went to "pop rivet" the tag on the rear end of the car where the holes were still present from the old one and noticed the hole centers on the new plate was different to the existing ones.
In new money the centers on the car are approximately 61mm whereas on the new mega expensive plate the centers are 54mm.
Can anyone please confirm what the correct center size should be.

Thanking you in advance

Alex

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 11:24 pm

How come you have 'some' bodies without ID? Even a totally stripped shell still has it's tag unless deliberately removed. I assume my two stolen cars had their tags removed PDQ.

I can think of one legit reason but I suppose there may be others. Before I aid and abet with info I'd be interested to know the car numbers not just the body numbers. Can't image any reason for not supplying that info first?

AussieEtype · Post by **AussieEtype** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:35 am

Another reason the tag may not be there is that they have simply fallen off due to corrosion.

I have had my car since 1982 and it has never had the rear tag but the holes are there and did have the remains of the rivets that hold on the plate.

Sometime between 1971 and 1982 corrosion must have set in and the tag has fallen off.

Thought I am nor sure it is all that important for identification as the firewall is stamped (as well as the main riveted plate on the firewall) - more enduring than the rear tag.

Having said that I will get a new repro rear tag plate one day.

Garry

angelw · Post by **angelw** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 7:40 am

garrycol wrote:Another reason the tag may not be there is that they have simply fallen off due to corrosion.

I have had my car since 1982 and it has never had the rear tag but the holes are there and did have the remains of the rivets that hold on the plate.

Sometime between 1971 and 1982 corrosion must have set in and the tag has fallen off.

Thought I am nor sure it is all that important for identification as the firewall is stamped (as well as the main riveted plate on the firewall) - more enduring than the rear tag.

Having said that I will get a new repro rear tag plate one day.

Garry

Hello Garry,
Yes, I agree that the Body Number is not particularly important when identifying the vehicle. The Number stamped on the sloping face of the firewall is the Car Number and is used as the VIN. Its also specified as the Car Number on the plate riveted to the firewall. The terms used on the Build Plate of S1, S1.5 and S2 cars, are Chassis Number (Car Number for S3) and Body Number.

Regards,

Bill

commemorative74 · Post by **commemorative74** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 7:57 am

I am not looking to get too involved in a long drawn out conversation on why the body tags are missing when all I wanted to know are the fixing hole centers, but having been around these cars for nearly twenty years you start to understand a little bit more about how they have been treated and restored.

A few reasons why the body tags might have been removed and never replaced:
Accident damage; panel replacement; removed for restoration work and not replaced; rusted through, etc; etc.

I have owned cars where they have had so many coats of paint over the years all that you could see was the outline of the plate. Maybe they were removed to be cleaned up and never replaced - who knows??

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 2:10 am

yes, S3 are more secure with stamped numbers.

Distance between rivets on my S1.5 2+2 shell is a fraction under 55 mm.

Pete

angelw · Post by **angelw** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:19 am

commemorative74 wrote:I have just recently ordered and taken delivery of some body number ID plates stamped with the correct number on as I have various cars that have them missing for unknown reasons.
One of the cars is a 1973 home market roadster. I went to "pop rivet" the tag on the rear end of the car where the holes were still present from the old one and noticed the hole centers on the new plate was different to the existing ones.
In new money the centers on the car are approximately 61mm whereas on the new mega expensive plate the centers are 54mm.
Can anyone please confirm what the correct center size should be.

Thanking you in advance

Alex

Hello Alex,
The hole spacing in your car is correct and not the plate. I have five S3's in work, ranging from 1972 to 1974 and all measure 2 and 3/8" (60.325mm) pitch of the holes for the Body Number plate.

Regards,

Bill

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