We were filling out the form for the Heritage certificate last night for our
Bugeye and found some interesting discrepancies on the numbers. There are 4
numbers on the Bugeye body that should be close -- not the same, but at
least close. Our VIN is AN5L31698 (January 1960) while the numbers on both
door posts (and the engine, actually) are in the 27400 range. I had always
assumed someone changed the VIN for some reason and our car was really made
in late '59 (corresponding to the 27400 range). However, the fourth number,
and the only number not held on by screws, is the one stamped into the body
on the top of the passenger footwell. On our car, that number is 5180.
Horler says this was most likely stamped when the body shells were produced
and is close to the car number. 5180 and 31698 are obviously nowhere close!
5180 would put the date of manufacture at around October '58. This does
explain a few things about our car -- the apparent original primrose yellow
paint (discontinued early '59), the lack of the big rubber standoffs on top
of the inner fenders (added around car number 6000), and the long door
handles. Turns out the door post numbers (and the VIN of course) are held
on by screws and one of them (the right door post) has one phillips and one
flathead -- someone's been playing with numbers!
I don't think any serious (i.e., front clip) bodywork has been done on this
car. I've looked but haven't found any evidence.
So, is there a definite way of determining if the body is a '58?
How close should the number stamped into the body be to the VIN?
Horler mentions a tooling hole in the rear crossmember added at about car
6000 -- what am I looking for there?
The change from 9 stud windshield to 2 was around car 5500 (more or less).
Ours has two studs, but any bolt on pieces could have been changed (hey,
someone changed the numbers!).
Unfortunately, it looks like most of the early changes (box section behind
the seats, etc.) were worked out before car # 5000 so those won't help.
Thanks,
Rich Hill
'58 AH Sprite (we think -- it was a '60 until yesterday)
'79 MG Midget (completely sure of that!)
p.s. if it is a '58 now we have one from the first and last year of
Sprite/Midget production
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