Early Chassis Plate-1952-1958
Series II & Early 948cc
The earlier chassis numbers (not Series MM) were a lot more informative as to the type and finish of the vehicle. The number was always preceded by the letter “F” indicating that the vehicle was a Morris Minor, followed by a body type code letter. A third letter indicated the body colour (not exact) followed by two numeric characters, the first indicating the class of vehicle and the second the paint type.
The following table will help to decode your number:
|
Body Type
(Second Letter) |
Colour
(Third Letter) |
Class
(First Digit) |
Paint Type
(2nd Digit) |
||||
|
A
|
4dr Saloon |
A
|
Black |
1
|
RHD-Home |
1
|
Synthetic |
|
B
|
2dr Saloon |
B
|
Light Grey |
2
|
RHD-Export |
2
|
Synobel |
|
C
|
Convertible |
C
|
Dark Red |
3
|
LHD |
3
|
Cellulose |
|
L
|
Traveller |
D
|
Dark Blue |
4
|
North America |
4
|
Metallic |
|
E
|
Van |
E
|
Mid Green |
5
|
CKD-RHD |
5
|
Primer |
|
F
|
Pick-Up |
F
|
Beige |
6
|
CKD-LHD |
6
|
Cellulose Body/ Synthetic Wings |
|
G
|
Chassis/ Cab |
G
|
Brown | ||||
|
H
|
GPO Mail Van |
H
|
CKD Finish | ||||
|
J
|
GPO Engineers’ Van |
J
|
Dark Grey | ||||
|
K
|
Light Red | ||||||
|
L
|
Light Blue | ||||||
|
P
|
Ivory | ||||||
|
R
|
White | ||||||
|
S
|
Mid Grey | ||||||
|
T
|
Light Green | ||||||
|
U
|
Dark Green |
Late Chassis Plate-1958 on
Late 948cc & 1098cc
The later chassis plates did not give an indication of either colour or finish.
All numbers were prefixed by MA and then the following body type prefix:
Body Type Prefix
| 2S | 2dr Saloon |
| S | 4dr Saloon |
| T | Convertible |
| W | Traveller |
|
E
|
GPO Engineers’ Van |
|
G
|
GPO Postal Van |
|
Q
|
Chassis/Cab |
|
U
|
Pick-Up |
|
V
|
Van |
The prefixes were then followed by either a 3 (Series 3 948cc) or a 5 (Series 5 1098cc).
The final prefix was either a D for de-luxe or L indicating LHD. Standard RHD vehicles had no last prefix.
The last Minors had a chassis number suffix, either M indicating that the vehicle was Cowley built or F for Adderley Park vehicles (Travellers and commercial vehicles only).