Identification and Dating

The chassis plate of Morris Minors come in three different types:

	2 pic	3 pic
1948-52	1952-58	1958-1971
Early series MM Morris Minors had a simple coding system giving limited information. Each plate carried the Engine number, and chassis number which was in all cases prefixed with the code SMM. The remaining field designated the vehicle type, which identifying the Morris Minor with the designation MNR, this was then followed by the paint type, S for Synobel, SYN for Synthetic and nothing for Cellulose.	First Letter F Morris Minor O LCV Second Letter A Four Door B Two Door C Convertible L Traveller E Van F Pick-up G Chassis/Cab H GPO Mail Van J GPO Engineers' Van Second Letter A Black B Light Grey C Dark Red D Dark Blue E Mid Green F Beige G Brown H CKD Finish J Dark Grey K Light Red L Light Blue P Ivory R White S Mid Grey T Light Green U Dark Green First Number 1 RHD Home market 2 RHD Export 3 LHD Export 4 North American Export 5 RHD CKD 6 LHD CKD Second Number 1 Synthetic 2 Synobel 3 Cellulose 4 Metallic 5 Primer 6 Cellulose Body/ Synthetic Wings	First Letter M Morris A Austin Second Letter A A series engine Third Letter S Saloon 2S 2Dr Saloon T Tourer/Convertible W Traveller V Van U PickUp Q Chassis/Cab G GPO Postal Van E GPO Engineers' Van Forth Figure 3 948cc 5 1098cc C Austin LCV Optional Letter D Deluxe Post 1968 Sufix (Factory) M Cowley F Adderley Park

As you can see, My Morris Minor FBH 55 171360, was a 2 Door Morris Minor CKH-RHD in CKD primer. From this I'll guess that it was one of the cars assembled by Nuffield/BMC in Petone, Wellington, NZ.

Note: The Chassis number is also stamped into the firewall, next to the choke cable mounting, check this to keep your ID plate Honest.

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