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MG MG Y Type - Vehcle Numbers

I am considering the purchase of a 1950 Tourer. It appear to be an incorrct and poor restoration. The auto in mind, supposedly has engine number R292 and chassis number 19714/292.
Do those numbers make sense? I ask because in my research, the serial numbers cited by others do not seem to be similar.
Thanks
Jerry H Adams

Dear Jerry,
to answer your query, the second set of numbers do conform to the fact that the car is a YT but they are not the chassis number. I believe they are the body number. Two examples taken from John Lawson's book indicate that the body numbers are correct.
His book quotes two cars having body numbers 19604-185 and 19630-212. Their respective chassis numbers are Y/T/EX(U)2509 and Y/T/EXR2617. The EX(U) identifies the car as being EXported to the Usa and EXR is an EXport with Right hand drive.

With regard to the engine number, this is nothing like a Y type engine number. There is a similarity however, to the Body type. All Y saloons were body type B281 and YT's were body type B282. (has a similarity to R292)
I hope this has been of some use.
Regards
Jack
Jack Murray

Thank you Jack. That is a very reassuring response. The person providing the information is not the owner and probably misread the identification. I'll ask for the other number.
Thanks again
Jerry
Jerry H Adams

The engine number given is probably the part number of what ever company rebuilt the engine, ie Gold Seal, and may be stamped on a plate next to the correct engine plate. It could also refer to a Reconditioned (R) crank or bores, and the numbers to a regrind size or oversize rebore. The reconditioning plate can carry quite a bit of information if you know how to read it.

Neil.
Neil Cairns

Dear Jerry,
Can you provide a chassis no? It's on the outside of the front dumb iron - passenger side, just below the bottom edge of the valence. Wire brush and torch at angle are very useful.
That body number quoted will make the car a '49 model, I think.
Steve Brompton Aust Y Type Reg
Steve Brompton

Jerry

Caution!!!

Translation alert, a torch is a flashlight.

Paul
Paul

Dear All

I am the new owner of the above mentioned vehicle. I will help resolve the mystery of the identification numbers as soon as I collect the car next week.

The car has been in storage for over 30 years.

The seller told me that the car had been imported to the United States from Australia. Just to complicate the issue even further - I will be a British owner driving a car built for the Ausrtralian market, in the United States of America.


Dave


Dave Evans

Dave

Sounds like it will be an interesting addition to Ys on Parade, look forward to hearing from you with the details and a photo.

Paul
Paul Barrow

I finally collected the car yesterday.

Here is the information that I have gathered

Body Type : B282
Body Number : 19714/292
It is a LHD vehicle
Original Color : Mid Blue ??? Now old english white
Engine Block Number : 22952

I am not sure where to look for the chassis number as I did not understand Steve's description above - Sorry Steve.

I did look on the bulkhead on the passenger side but did not see any additional labels in that area, the only label that I found was a label confirming the body number 19714 which was located in the center of the bulkhead just below the centerline of the hood hinge.

Can anyone help guide me where to look for the chassis number - maybe the label is missing??

Regards

Dave
Dave Evans

Some additional info

As I stated in my previous message the vehicle is LHD the speedometer is graduated in MPH - this would make the vehicle either a YT/EX/U or a YT/EXL/M how do I tell the difference??

Regards

Dave
Dave Evans

Dave: The most obvious difference between an EXU and EXL is that the EXU has the brake lights and turn signal lights flared into the rear wings. There are a number of other differences including more complex wiring to accomodate the flashing signals, which have to be one of the earliest ever fitted to any car. Does the car not have the plates attached to the battery box? These contain the serial number (YT EXU or EXL 1234) and the engine number. Otherwise you will have to try Steve's route and look for the serial number on the left front dumb iron, in your case drivers side.On my car even when it was stripped it was not easy to find or read. Terry

Terry O'Brien

Terry

Thanks for the guidance. The brake light is flared into the rear wing so I guess that makes the car an EXU.
I looked at the battery box on the drivers side and unfortunately it appears that the label may have been removed. The only labels that remain on the battery box are the "MG made in England" label and the label that addresses "patent issues" there is a space inbetween that appears to be the space where the chassis label was - approx 2"high X 4" long.

So it looks like I need to find the number on the Dumb Iron. Excuse my ignorance but what is a dumb iron? and where is it located? (I have not heard that term/description before)

Thanks

Dave

Dave Evans

No idea why it is called that, but it is the "finger" of the chassis that comes forward under the front fender / wing to the bumper support iron.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Dave: The dumb iron is the most forward part of the frame where the bumper attachment goes. The number is stamped on the outside. You will have to remove the left front wheel to have any real chance of seeing it. The number will simply be Y 1234. There is no distinction on the dumb iron betweeen Y and YT chassis and they are the same in any event. You may get lucky and find the brass plate on the left side of the flywheel housing,this will give you the engine number. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Thanks Guys

The number read from the dumb iron is Y2859, so piecing the information together the vehicle is identified as YT EXU-2859 probably registered sometime in 1949. The information I have on the previous owner is Brian Davis, Neutral Bay NSW, Australia, 2089.

Can anyone down-under or elsewhere tell me anything about the car's history.

Thanks for your continued support.

Dave
Dave Evans

Dave: I think you have a lot of detective work ahead on that fellow Davis. I would be astounded if MG shipped any EXU versions to Australia, just makes no sense. But you never know as they did sell some EXRs in the US. As far as I can determine EXUs were made only for North America and all YTs sold in Canada were EXUs. Doesn't mean that Davis didn't take the car to Australia and then had it shipped back as it was unsaleable there. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Terry

Thanks for your feedback!

I am not sure if the car ever left the country (USA), All I have at the moment is that previous owner was living in Australia. He may have purchased the car in the US and was planning on shipping it to Australia. Or he may be a US citizen that moved to Australia and put the car in storage, but never returned to collect it. The car may or may not have spent some time in Australia. I just do not know and may never find out.

All I know is that the car had been in storage for a considerable amount of time in the US and the previous owner is living in Australia.

I do intend to contact the storage company and previous owner to see if they will shed some light on the history of the car.

Thanks for your continued intrest in my plight to uncover as much information on my YT

Dave
Dave Evans

Dave

If you send me an email privately I will advise you as to how to go about getting a new guarrantee plate for the side of your battery box - where is should have been!

Regards

Paul
Paul Barrow

Dave,

Perhaps your first purchase should be "Let There Be Y's" by David Lawrence. Should be available from numerous book sites. If you need help let me know. I own three Y's plus a YT.


Regards,

MAX
Max Harvey

Look no further for a copy of Let there be Ys than your own website sss.mgytypes.org - you cannot buy the supplement any where else so you can get them both at the same time!

See the Book Review page and the Regalia page for all the details of what you get and how to get it.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Paul

Don't you mean www.mgytypes.org?

Larry
Lawrence Hallanger

Oh heck - yes worry about that!

http://www.mgytypes.org!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Dave,
I have found Brian Davis's previous address and phone number. The lady who answered the phone was American and said she would pass my phone number on to him . She also told me that Brian Davis was American, so we probably have the right man. Lets hope he calls me. Hope you have the book by now.

Regards,

Max Harvey.
MAX HARVEY

Max

Thanks very much for following up. You have got me very excited about the possibility of uncovering some history on YT EXU 2859. I hope Brian will call you and share some information on the car, how long he had it, previous ownership, modifications and improvements that have been made to the car, where it has travelled and any other information good or bad.The guarantee plate is missing maybe you can ask if he has it or if he knows what happened to it? If you get the chance please ask Brian on my behalf if he has any historic documentation on the vehicle, however insignificant it may seem.

I would be happy to communicate with Brian directly via email if he is willing - my email address is listed above

I am also prepared to pay for any mailing/postage expenses associated with shipping any items he may have on the car to the USA.

Dave
Dave Evans

Max

I was wondering if you have had any more contact with Brian Davis. Do you have any info for me?

Thanks and Happy New Year to everyone!

PS I received my copy of Let there be Y's - great Christmas present.
David Evans

Hi guy´s i would like to know the regular price of a YT 49, in not so good conditions, and few TD´s... 50, 51, 52 and a MKII 53..

Thank You

Happy New Year

Max
Max Pereira

This thread was discussed between 10/10/2002 and 03/01/2003

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