Phil,
MKI Midget production began in March 1961 with number GAN1-101, but MKI's
were not introduced until June '61. Total production of '61 cars was 7656.
The beginning chassis number for '62 was GAN1-7526 (Jan-62). You definately
have an early '61 and would say it was built by June of '61.
As evidence, your best bet is a BMIHT certificate, but you could try it
with a copy of Horler's book under your arm, if you had access to one. I'm
not sure if model change over was consistenly in the same month of each
year or not, but it was typically between October and December.
Let us know what happens.
Gerard
At 9:27 PM -0600 3/25/01, Phil Vanner wrote:
>I was about to ask pretty much the same question of the list.
>
>My car was built on 9/18/61 per the BMIHT certificate
>VIN is GAN1L2395 (No explicit model year designation back then)
>It is titled as a '62. Makes sense if it was a US car. September is about
>right for an early example of the following model year to be built. But, I
>have been told it could correctly be called a '61.
>
>I have seen model year lists for (post T-series) Midgets that start at both
>'61 and '62. If there is such a thing as a '61 Midget, I imagine that I
>could consider my car one, since I think serial numbers started at 1001.
>(Making mine is only 1400 cars or so into the line.)
>
>Why do I care, when none of this matters at 4000 RPM? Because in Minnesota
>you can put "year of manufacture" plates on any car over 25 years old,
>whether registered for normal road use or not. I have one "62-63" plate in
>fair shape, and set of "61" plates in excellent shape. I'd much rather use a
>"61" (don't need a front plate in this case, even for normal road use)
>However, the state will make me submit evidence to get them to change the
>title. Even though the rule reads "year of manufacture" they really mean
>model year, so the title has to match the plates.
>
>So, given that Midget production started in the summer of '61, can any
>Midget be called a '61? If so, can I consider mine one, and what argument
>might I use to get them to change my title? (besides the BMIHT certificate)
>If it's way too much of a pain in the a$$ to get them to change it, I'll
>just use the '62-63 plate, but it's worth a shot.
>
>What say the historians?
>
>Phil Vanner
>Mk1 Midget
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