Jonmac - close your eyes!
Hi Spitsters,
Just got my 'production record certificate' from BMIHT and was excited.
I've
restored this MK IV over the past 9 years and am very proud of it. Now I want
to get it
on the road legally. Hence the request to BMIHT.
I sent them all the numbers I could find on the car - chassis, engine,
transmission and differential. For some very complex reasons the car had no
body nor
commission plates left on it when I got it. Please believe me I did buy this
car from a
reputable
source.
On the BMIHT certificate I find I own a MK IV, Commission number
FK5061L, built
31 December 1970 and despatched 27 January 1971. I am pleased to know I own
such an old
version of the MK IV. I guess that makes it officially a '71 model, though I'd
prefer
to call it a '70 model. (Well, it was officially *built* in '70! - by 1 day)
The last line of the 'certificate' concerns me though. It states:
"please note
that we have traced this car only from the Engine Number quoted by you."
Would they not have had record of something more substantial - ie,
chassis
number?
Which brings me to wonder - do I really own FK5061L? What if some PO
had simply
bought the motor out of FK5061L and stuck it into his car? And maybe FK 5061L
lived
on with a motor transplant of its own. And then the commission plates were
lost after
that.
Wouldn't that mean there could be two MK IV #FK5061L running around?
If the old
FK5061L has really died, then there's no harm. But there's no proof of that.
(I did
check Joe's list - it's not there.)
Having paid $40 US (closer to 60 Canadian!) for a piece of paper
'certifying'
that I own #FK5061L based solely on an engine number, who is the bigger fool -
BMIHT
for making the claim, or me for buying it?
Any other thoughts on this BMIHT business of 'certificates'?
Mull that one over.
(You can open your eyes now John.)
--
Fred & Wendy Griffiths
Calgary, Canada
mailto: griffco@cadvision.com
http://www.cadvision.com/griffco/index.htm
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