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Ian Grace
USA
663 Posts |
 Posted - 18/03/2021 : 16:46:45
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Not an M.G., but I hope this might be of interest.
I have a Minor here that was first registered 30th December 1930, but it wasn't despatched from Cowley until 8th January 1931.
The chassis number and engine numbers all match the production records, so there is no doubt that the car was built in January 1931.
So suspicion turned to the registration date on the (1945) continuation logbook. However, the registration number is NG 50 - a Norfolk number. The first car registered in Norfolk in 1931 was NG 156, so NG 50 was definitely registered before the end of 1930, so the 30th December registration date is certainly correct.
So we have a car here that was registered in Norfolk 11 days before being despatched from Cowley and the chassis wasn't even laid down until 5th January!
I am wondering if there was some advantage in registering a car before the end of the year - perhaps for tax reasons? But more significantly, it would seem that the Norfolk registration authority had the chassis AND engine number of the car before it was built!
Perhaps Morris provided this data when a car was ordered from the factory in advance, but this could not be, as engines were selected at random from the pile for fitting only when the chassis was on its way down the line.
Can anyone throw any light on this apparent conundrum?
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Edited by - Ian Grace on 18/03/2021 16:47:07 |
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Ian Grace
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 18/03/2021 : 17:29:45
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| My best bet is that the registration number was allocated to the first owner on 30th December when he ordered the car, but the logbook wasn't issued to him until January, after the car had been despatched and the chassis and engine numbers were known. |
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Mike the M
United Kingdom
481 Posts |
Posted - 18/03/2021 : 19:33:26
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Was it a case of early 'cherished' number, being NG 50?
So that the owner requested the number, and maybe paid a premium, and when he had the numbers gave them to the authority in order to actually register the car.
Only a thought!
Mike Dalby |
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
948 Posts |
Posted - 19/03/2021 : 08:16:58
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Before the DVLA, numbers were allocated at County level. It was possible to make 'personal arrangements' with staff to have specific numbers allocated. Later the DVLA spotted a missed fortune and took control over the selling.
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
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Ralph
United Kingdom
72 Posts |
Posted - 19/03/2021 : 13:44:08
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Ian,
To continue the theory of a personalised number, do you know the name of the first owner - could he or she have had the initials NG. Pity your name isn’t Nigel Grace - it would have suited you!!!!!!!!!
Ralph
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
948 Posts |
Posted - 19/03/2021 : 15:06:10
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Up to 1972 the prefix letters in the registration numbers were specified by the county of registration. The NG series were for Norfolk used from Dec 1930 to May 1935.
It would be sheer luck if Mr N.G.also lived in Norfolk and was able to oil a palm to get a special number.
https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/ng.htm
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
Edited by - Ian Bowers on 19/03/2021 15:08:00 |
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Ian Grace
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 19/03/2021 : 15:21:56
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All good thoughts! Another is that the dealer might have been trying to boost his end of year sales figures to impress William Morris!
I will be contacting the Norfolk Record Office who should have the original registration record and first owner's details. |
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