The Sprite Forum

While applying for a new title to my recently purchased Bugeye I noticed that the VIN number on the frame of the car was actually a strip containing the engine number and that number was used on the title as the VIN #. My question: Is there any other numbers somewhere on the car that would show the VIN number? While it is listed as a 1959 I would like to verify the year. The engine may have also been changed as it is 12V58726692 which indicated a 1275 and not a 948. When I purchased the car the previous owner had been converting it to a race car, had it repainted and may have switched engines. Any ideas?

Thanks,
As I tried to point out above the tag on the driver's side frame is an added tag with the engine number stamped on it and no VIN number tag.
T Gun

If your dash is original the number is written on the back. It should be preceded by AN5-L and five numbers like in this picture.

Go to British Motor Industry Heritage Trust website and get a Heritage Certificate. It will give you all of the data on the car. There is a chassis number stamped on the right footwell top. The tag on the frame is the car number, starts with AN5-L/xxxx. That is not te3chnically a VIN. In the 1950' and 60's, the DMV (at least in Kalifornia) would add the year the car was sold and the title would be like 60AN5-l/xxxx. The info you will get with the certificate is Make and Model, Car/Chassis number, Original Engine number, Body Number, Specification (LHD or RHD, Export or domestic), Colour of exterior, trim and hood (top), Date of Build, date of dispatch, Destination, Any other numbers recorded like key number, Details of factory installed equipment, and some great photos. Well worth the $$.

The number on the top footwell can not be used trace the original chassis number; only the engine number and the RH door tag are recorded. If you have the door tag is the A-post between the door hinges that begins "BAE", that number, if original, can be used to track down your original chassis and engine number. The other door tag will be within 500 to 100 digits of the chassis number, as will the footwell number, so they will give you a ballpark idea, but they can not be used to trace.

The back of the dash is an option, but frequently, they are not readable any longer.

Post those numbers and I can give you a ballpark range as to year.

More info and link to BMIHT here:

http://gerardsgarage.com/Garage/bmihtWS.htm

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Gerard

http://gerardsgarage.com/





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-04-12 02:55 PM by pixelsmithusa.

Gerard, All I know is that I have been to the Heritage Motor Centre, looked up my cars and in the registry are hand written entries, including chassis number, engine number AND body number. The point being, the more you provide the archivists the more you will get. Not and approximation, but the information from the actual build. One of my cars, AN5-L/46757 has body number BAE/46492 built on 9 Sept, 1960 Dispatch date 12 Sept, 1960 to Los Angeles, CA. There may also be a tag on the right had front door jamb that starts with the AN5-L. That is the car/chassis number. SO if you are interested in facts instead of approximations, get a Heritage Certificate.

I have Heritage certificates for several of my cars. I also have a personal, hand written note specifically to me from Archivist Anders Ditlev Clausager, who used to be the head activist, regarding specifics of what numbers are useful for trace purposes for the Bugeye. It is the LH dog dag that has "AN 5XXXX" but there would not be an "L" in that number. That is the body number, I believe used by Pressed Steel, manufacturers of the body itself. The "L" designation only appears in the chassis plate, signifying a LH drive car.

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Gerard

http://gerardsgarage.com/

Hi
Does any body can advise me how to find by VIN number the number of gearbox and engine?
BR
Pawel

I doubt they did this on the bugeyes, but the later cars had the chassis number stamped into the sheet metal where the right front lever shock is mounted - on the firewall side. Found mine while stripping the engine bay and confirmed in the Horler book.

In order to determine original engine number, you'll need to order a Heritage certificate from BMIHT. If you have the chassis number/VIN tag, located on the inner wheel arch brace, under the carbs, you can get a certificate that will list the engine number, body number and chassis number. However, in my experience, the gearbox number will not be recorded.

The Bugeye will not have the chassis serial number on the shock mount.

https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates

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Gerard

http://gerardsgarage.com/





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2017-08-07 10:56 AM by pixelsmithusa.