-----Original Message-----
From: Ross Jones [mailto:rossjones@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 7:37 PM
To: Michael D. Miles, PE
Subject: RE: Chassis Number Problem
Mr. Miles is correct - please disregard my previous message. My wife just
took a spotlight and magnifying glass to it now, and it is indeed the
correct number. My eyesight is not what it used to be.
Mike is probably also correct in assuming a previous owner sanded a bit to
find the number, which would explain the scratching and rust.
I am a little paranoid, as I was all set to buy a 1967 4/4 from a man in New
Haven CT back in 1992. After making the trip and inspecting the car, I found
it was pieced together and not at all what was advertised. I bought a Dodge
Stealth instead, and waited 8 more years for a good Morgan. Sorry for my
error and wasting anyone's time on the list.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael D. Miles, PE [mailto:mdmiles@mdmpe.com]
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 7:31 PM
To: Ross Jones
Subject: Re: Chassis Number Problem
I have what should definitely be an original chassis for each of my 4
seaters and I have yet to discern (divine) the chassis number from it at
ANY of the recommended or standard locations.
It would not surprise me that the signifigance of the number was not
considered at the factory to be important enough to really BANG the letter
punch but to casually tap it just enough to see it prior to painting (or to
dislodge the surface rust?)...
It sounds like some previous owner was looking for the number and tried to
find it in the metal. Thats not to say some nefarious individual DIDN'T
cobble your car but I think its less likely than someone just looking to
confirm what the paper said (and not finding it).
Ross Jones wrote:
>
> This weekend I was working on fixing the webbing on the drivers seat
> (mentioned in an earlier post). I thought about switching the passenger
seat
> to the drivers side while working on it. When I pulled the right hand seat
> all the way forward, I noticed something odd.
>
> On the cross member, where the chassis number is stamped, there are
> abrasions and rust, and it looks like someone was sanding or grinding the
> cross member at the location of the chassis number. The rest of the cross
> member, and the drivers side cross member, look like new. Only the area
> where the number is located is rusty and scratched. It almost seems like
> someone took a file to it.
>
> The number on the top face of the tool box is C7390. On the cross member,
I
> can only make out the numbers C7... The rest I cannot make out. I even
tried
> doing a rubbing with charcoal and paper, but it is indecipherable.
>
> Is this number stamped one digit at a time at the factory? It seems to be,
> as the numbers do not line up on a baseline.
>
> My car, a 1987 4/4, propane powered, is definitely a real Morgan (I
hope!).
> I have taken so many things apart and repaired things, and everything is
> just like the books say it should be. The car was appraised by Cantab
Motors
> prior to my purchase.
>
> I remember back in the '80's a friend of mine bought an AH 3000, and then
> could never get it registered or titled because none of the numbers
matched.
>
> Now my worst nightmare is -- did someone steal a few Morgans and piece
mine
> together from them? Or is it normal for the chassis number area to collect
> rust? Prior to fixing my hand brake, I was carrying two little steel wheel
> chocks under the passenger seat. They could have moved around and
scratched
> the cross member, maybe.
>
> According to the title, the car was imported by Isis Imports to a Florida
> customer. The second owner was a man in York, Pennsylvania, from whom I
> purchased the car. I am the third owner, the car has 14,000 miles.
>
> The big question is, since there are so few Morgans, who would have a few
> lying around with which to piece together another? And why bother, unless
> they were stolen?
>
> Any insight would be appreciated.
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