81 replies to this topic

[David Birchall]

We have to keep the Punters happy Tony!
(Which I think I just did on MMM forum)...

[Tony Matthews]

This is a scan of part of the print. The area on the print is 3mm x 4.5mm, and it was scanned at 19,200 dpi, then helpfully digitally enhanced by NASA. Oh no, by me. It seems to say:-

(Possibly something) F 9 (5?) or (6?) 0 3 - so it could be F 9503 or F 9603 or ?F 9503 or ?F 9603. Whaddya reckon?

There does not seem to be another photograph showing more of the reg. plate, but I may be able to find a diary from that time, and there just may be a clue there.

[Leigh Trevail]

According to my 1966 Glass’s Guide these are the registrations that used ‘F’ as the second letter of a two letter combination. The number that I have included is the nearest to what you think the MG was. This would have been issued on Jan 1st of the year given.

CF 9630.….1930.….WEST SUFFOLK
DF 9260.….1930.….GLOUCESTERSHIRE
EF 9088.…..1949.….W HARTLEPOOL
FF 9170.…..1954.…..MERIONETH
GF ……...…..1930.…..LONDON
HF 9331*….1934.….WALLASEY
IF 9353.……1933.….CORK
JF 7477.……1935.….LEICS
KF 9630.……1932.…LIVERPOOL
OF 6368.……1930.…BIRMINHAM
RF 9239.……1932.….STAFFS
TF 6989.…….1932.….LANCS
UF 9482.…….1933.….BRIGHTON
VF 7571.…….1930.….NORFOLK
WF 9774.……1937 ….YORKSHIRE

* UNEVEN NUMBERS MOTORCYLES ONLY.

[Tony Matthews]

Thanks, Leigh, nothing seems quite close enough though - BUT - I have found a diary entry for Saturday, May 24 (Empire Day) 1947 - "Took delivery of CAF 593."

This is a puzzle, as although it has one of the letters and two or three of the numbers, it is hard to see them in the order of the scan. Neither is there any mention of MG. However, it seems a bit of a coincidence...



It's at times like this that you could use a timePhone - "Hey! You kids! Move..." Photograph taken behind "The Crabtree" PH, Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead. Not of me.

Edited by Tony Matthews, 25 August 2012 - 15:33.

[David McKinney]

CAF 9503?

[Vitesse2]

CAF 9503?

Categorically not, David. Except in Northern Ireland, three-letter/four-number combinations were never issued.

AF is a Cornish plate - not that it helps.

[Allan Lupton]

Thanks, Leigh, nothing seems quite close enough though - BUT - I have found a diary entry for Saturday, May 24 (Empire Day) 1947 - "Took delivery of CAF 593."

Tony, that's now on a RILEY LYNX SPRITE registered on 05 06 1936
DVLA think it is 1479cc as against 1496 which I would expect.
AF was Cornwall of course.

[RTH]

Bet you wish you still had it now Tony.

Here is a similar car for sale now for a mere £90,000 !

http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C315487

Interestingly this one was first registered WF 5665

Edited by RTH, 25 August 2012 - 16:39.

[David Birchall]

Tony, that's now on a RILEY LYNX SPRITE registered on 05 06 1936
DVLA think it is 1479cc as against 1496 which I would expect.
AF was Cornwall of course.

At least the Lynx Sprite would have been a proper four seater!

[Tony Matthews]

Tony, that's now on a RILEY LYNX SPRITE registered on 05 06 1936
DVLA think it is 1479cc as against 1496 which I would expect.
AF was Cornwall of course.

So that is this, Allan! As soon as I saw 'Riley' I realised it must be his brother's car, which is still, I believe, in the family, and looked after by a cousin in Suffolk. I haven't seen it for years...

[Tony Matthews]

Bet you wish you still had it now Tony.

Here is a similar car for sale now for a mere £90,000 !

http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C315487

Interestingly this one was first registered WF 5665

I wouldn't mind, Richard, although it would be a little cramped for me. I'd rather he'd kept the Invicta...

[Tony Matthews]

At least the Lynx Sprite would have been a proper four seater!

Discomfort is my abiding memory, David.

[Vitesse2]

So that is this, Allan! As soon as I saw 'Riley' I realised it must be his brother's car, which is still, I believe, in the family, and looked after by a cousin in Suffolk. I haven't seen it for years...

Curiouser and curiouser ...

That picture - unless your uncle was an "essential user" - must have been taken before June 1942 when "basic" was abolished for civilian cars: note the white-painted bumper and blackout shields on the headlights. But even if he was an essential user, it still wouldn't tie in with 1947: winter 1944/5 at the latest.

[mikeC]

My initial thoughts on the registration number was that it was JF 9603, but looking at the Glasses Guide list, UF 9603 seems the most likely...

[Leigh Trevail]

So if MikeC is correct and the MG is UF 9603 it would have been registered late 1932 in Brighton. The Kithead trust holds some of the records for Sussex up to 1947. Also Sussex Records Office in Chichester (01243 753600) is worth a try.

I should imagine that the records held by the relevant MG club are sorted out by chassis numbers not registration numbers.

[Tony Matthews]

Curiouser and curiouser ...

That picture - unless your uncle was an "essential user" - must have been taken before June 1942 when "basic" was abolished for civilian cars: note the white-painted bumper and blackout shields on the headlights. But even if he was an essential user, it still wouldn't tie in with 1947: winter 1944/5 at the latest.

I have no way of knowing when the photograph was taken, it is just one of three of that car that I have, the other two being obviously later, in that there are children who's rough age I can guess at.

My initial thoughts on the registration number was that it was JF 9603, but looking at the Glasses Guide list, UF 9603 seems the most likely...

^
^

So if MikeC is correct and the MG is UF 9603 it would have been registered late 1932 in Brighton. The Kithead trust holds some of the records for Sussex up to 1947. Also Sussex Records Office in Chichester (01243 753600) is worth a try.

I should imagine that the records held by the relevant MG club are sorted out by chassis numbers not registration numbers.

The plate does look very much as if the first letter is, or could be, a 'U', and for the moment I'm going to assume that it is. That leaves me with a plan 'B' if necessary. Leigh, I appreciate that registration numbers can and do, change, I was lucky with the Invicta, as the Archivist and Registra knew the reg. no. and was able to list all the owners, right up to the presentl. If this little MG still exists it would be great to be able to see/photograph it, or just to know that the Instrument of Torture is at least loved and used.

I'd like to thank everyone for their interest and help, I will continue with what I now have, and if anything else crops up I will either pass it on, or accept it with gratitude. Ta.

[275 GTB-4]

Any chance that your sister or some other family member could have other photos of the car?

Matthew.

Any chance that you or some other family member could have other photos of your Sister?

[Tony Matthews]

I'll see what I can do!

[Lee Nicolle]

Thanks, Leigh, nothing seems quite close enough though - BUT - I have found a diary entry for Saturday, May 24 (Empire Day) 1947 - "Took delivery of CAF 593."

This is a puzzle, as although it has one of the letters and two or three of the numbers, it is hard to see them in the order of the scan. Neither is there any mention of MG. However, it seems a bit of a coincidence...



It's at times like this that you could use a timePhone - "Hey! You kids! Move..." Photograph taken behind "The Crabtree" PH, Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead. Not of me.

Someone mentioned that the headlights seemed non standard, they are also non matching. One has clear lense and one is fluted.
And BTW I reckon it looks better with the cut down doors. And they must be or otherwise the factory made them rough!

[David Birchall]

The latest from the MMM forum:
"Sadly doesn't help me. No number of that likeness listed in the register files I'm afraid.

Regards


Robin"

Bu**er!!

It may have gone to the great scrap pile in the sky...

[275 GTB-4]

doors got cut because there was originally high doors over which you could not lean an elbow unlike later cars JPetc. which had the lower cut away. Rare as in I think fewer than 50 built.

Main reason for cutting doors was for elbow room to hang off and work the large near-vertical steering wheel

[275 GTB-4]

I'll see what I can do!

In the interim, and while there seems to be a lull in Magna proceedings...might I be so bold, in the finest TNF thread hijack tradition, to ask, can anyone identify the car my Nana is sitting in? (the hessian bag over any bonnet mascot is no help at all!)

[tlc356]

Tony: I admit that has been over 50 years that I've owned an MG. That said, take a look at the K3 Magnette here (cut and paste this into your browser). http://www.google.co...29,r:2,s:0,i:80
The cut of the door is similar and I have seen pictures of these with and without the exterior exhaust. This is my candidate (maybe your Dad's car was in the Mille ;) ). Tom

Thanks, Leigh, nothing seems quite close enough though - BUT - I have found a diary entry for Saturday, May 24 (Empire Day) 1947 - "Took delivery of CAF 593."

This is a puzzle, as although it has one of the letters and two or three of the numbers, it is hard to see them in the order of the scan. Neither is there any mention of MG. However, it seems a bit of a coincidence...



It's at times like this that you could use a timePhone - "Hey! You kids! Move..." Photograph taken behind "The Crabtree" PH, Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead. Not of me.

[David Birchall]

Nice thought but definately not a K3! The K3 had a wider track, more squat radiator, bigger brakes, preselector box, intake on the other side and many other differences that would not be obvious in the photos.

[mikeC]

In the interim, and while there seems to be a lull in Magna proceedings...might I be so bold, in the finest TNF thread hijack tradition, to ask, can anyone identify the car my Nana is sitting in? (the hessian bag over any bonnet mascot is no help at all!)

Hmmm... I reckon this is going to be a tough one: the general appearance is of a mid-twenties, European 2-3 litre, but... could this be a much earlier car rebodied and updated in the twenties? No front wheel brakes, non-detachable hubs, and the rake and position of the steering wheel and column suggest to me that it could have pre Great War origins

[Ray Bell]

There's a good forum for things like that...

Classic Car or something like that.

[275 GTB-4]

Hmmm... I reckon this is going to be a tough one: the general appearance is of a mid-twenties, European 2-3 litre, but... could this be a much earlier car rebodied and updated in the twenties? No front wheel brakes, non-detachable hubs, and the rake and position of the steering wheel and column suggest to me that it could have pre Great War origins

Thanks Mike...all good info, especially as I am completely out of my depth on this one...

[Ray Bell]

A lot of cars well into the twenties didn't have front brakes...

I wouldn't think it was rebodied at all. Do you know what era the photo was taken?

[275 GTB-4]

Hmmm... I reckon this is going to be a tough one: the general appearance is of a mid-twenties, European 2-3 litre, but... could this be a much earlier car rebodied and updated in the twenties? No front wheel brakes, non-detachable hubs, and the rake and position of the steering wheel and column suggest to me that it could have pre Great War origins

Mike...some family members have said it was a "Daimler with a very long straight engine" (straight 8?)...so thats narrowing it down some...sadly, they also told me that my Nana never got to drive it...just posed for a photo.

[GMACKIE]

Looks a bit French to me - Tercat-Mery? Or Minerva, maybe?

[Terry Walker]

No front brakes, side mounted running board spare (missing), possibly right-hand gear lever, small suicide rear door, mid 1920s. Judging by size, a prestige car. If continental, definitely prestige, as quite a few top makes had right-hand-drive as standard (think Bugatti for example). It was a prestige format, and for chauffeur driven cars very handy--chauffeur steps out onto kerb in a flash to open the door for m'lord and m'lady. My guess is Metallurgique-- if you look at the bag, you can see a bump for the radiator filler well back from the front edge of the radiator. Mets had a deep V-shap rad, with the cap well back just like the pic. I found a small pic in Vintage Motor Car Pocketbook, p 169, and it seems to have exactly the same wheels, also rear only brakes, and general proportions, as this car in the photo. Looks to me though that this one has Oz coachwork.

If that's it, it's a 2 litre ohv four, on a 10 foot wheelbase

[Odseybod]

No front brakes, side mounted running board spare (missing), possibly right-hand gear lever, small suicide rear door, mid 1920s. Judging by size, a prestige car. If continental, definitely prestige, as quite a few top makes had right-hand-drive as standard (think Bugatti for example). It was a prestige format, and for chauffeur driven cars very handy--chauffeur steps out onto kerb in a flash to open the door for m'lord and m'lady. My guess is Metallurgique-- if you look at the bag, you can see a bump for the radiator filler well back from the front edge of the radiator. Mets had a deep V-shap rad, with the cap well back just like the pic. I found a small pic in Vintage Motor Car Pocketbook, p 169, and it seems to have exactly the same wheels, also rear only brakes, and general proportions, as this car in the photo. Looks to me though that this one has Oz coachwork.

If that's it, it's a 2 litre ohv four, on a 10 foot wheelbase

Very much a guess but I'd suggest something much more prosaic - Chevrolet D8, maybe?