Body Numbers??

[air-chief]

Hi All

I'm curious on this one.

Were Body Numbers on the ID plates numbered from 1 to X for each body style??? or were they in sequence and stamped as the body came down the line? :-/

Regards
air-chief

[RET]

My understanding (and I'm sure Ken can correct me on this) is that:

• Engine Numbers are sequential and there is only one sequence for all vehicles regardless of where they were built.  Sequences numbers were reset at some model changes (ie "L" prefix, "B" prefix, "J" prefix).
  
• Chassis Numbers are sequential and there is one sequence for each plant.  Numbers were reset at the start of each model.
  
• ID Plate numbers are sequential and there is one sequence for each bodystyle at each plant, so they were presumably fitted at the point of assembly.  Which begs the question, was the tag used to specify the colours the car was to be painted, or stamped after the deed was done?  We know that some were fitted pre-painting and some fitted post-painting, and I believe Sydney did the former and Melbourne the latter.

One or both of those body numbers starts at 1000, not 1, but I can't recall off the top of my head which.  As always, I look forward to the definitive answer from Ken 'the Guru' M

cheers
RET

[mcl1959]

Air Chief, The answer was very well put by RET,
the chassis number starts at 1000,
the body number at 0
and the engine number at 1000 as well.

I really dont know why Sydney ID plates are unpainted and Melbourne and Adelaide plates are painted.  As far as I can see, the plates must have been fitted where the body was made, otherwise confusion would reign before very long.  The answer may simply be that in Sydney, the practice was to put the ID plate on after the firewall was painted whilst in Melbourne and Adelaide, they painted the firewall after they put the plate on.

Ken