Paul,
The commission number (according to BMIHT records is in fact for a very
early non-US 1500 (75001 being the start of that series of production).
However the engine number should begin with FM if it is a 1500. The FH
engine number denotes that it is a 1296 (non US) model.
Since the car is a very early 1500 it is very possible that the factory
was in fact using up some old MkIV owner's manuals before printing the
new ones.
If you want to get the real story on the car, I suggest that you order a
BMIHT certificate. It will tell you if the engine has in fact been
replaced since it left the factory.
In any event, if you have not already, please register the car in the
database.
Regards,
Joe Curry
"McKey, Paul" wrote:
>
> Hi All
>
> As I mentioned in one of my last postings, I have just recently purchased my
> first Spit in New Zealand. It came with the original owners manual
> (slightly shabby) which had "Mark IV" written on the front cover, crossed
> out and replaced by "1500". Strange I thought, but I simply thought one of
> the PO's had acquired it some time after the vehicle was originally made and
> thought it was a good (if not slightly incorrect) addition to the car.
>
> Anyway, last week I was once again getting better acquainted with my new car
> when I decided to have a closer look at the commission plate. Now, my car
> is a British RHD Spit, most probably shipped to New Zealand shortly after it
> was assembled, so it only has the one commission plate on the left hand side
> of the engine bay. You can imagine my surprise when I looked closely at
> this plate and found it was a Mark IV commission plate!! The plate is
> definitely original and the commission number stamped into it has got to be
> for real! My NZ registration papers seem to be in order and also have the
> same commission and engine numbers and state the CC rating as 1493. The
> chassis/commission number is FH75339 and the engine number is FH29992HE. I
> have registered this car with Joe Curry's database and from this database it
> would appear that it must be a 1975 1500!! Does anyone know anything about
> my dilemma? The guy I bought the car advertised it as a 1500, and of course
> it must be, but its just a little tricky to know for sure now, especially
> since the cosmetic differences between the Mk IV and early 1500's are very
> minimal on the British cars.
>
> Any help to unravel this mystery would be much appreciated!
>
> Regards
>
> Paul
>
> 1975 1500 Spit
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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