[Healeys] Frame number and serial number

[Dallas Congleton]

"The exception is the Metallic Golden Beige BJ8s
which have long sequences where chassis and body numbers are in sequence
together."

Steve , I wonder if there is any correlation in the sequence number and 
paint color?  I remember an article years ago in Chatter when Donald Healey 
was asked about the matching of paint colors. He grinned and said they 
bought paint in 50 gallon drums, so that batch would be matched.  This would 
indicate a "run" of cars the same color as the production paint equipment 
would use one color at the time - such as the MGBs. Might be interesting to 
extrapolate to other original colors to see if this was a sequence, at least 
for the bodies.

Dallas




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "BJ8Healeys" <sbyers at ec.rr.com>
To: "Healeys at Autox" <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 10:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Frame number and serial number


> Hi, Randy -
> A possible explanation is that the chassis were delivered from Jensen to 
> BMC
> and stored until needed.  They were pulled out of the warehouse in no
> particular VIN or body number order for completion, except that the 
> chassis
> were received in groups which would tend to keep the numbers fairly close
> together, but not necessarily in sequence.  I have evidence from registry
> data that some short runs of three or four cars could be in sequence as 
> far
> as the chassis numbers and body numbers being sequential together, but not
> too many more than that.  The exception is the Metallic Golden Beige BJ8s
> which have long sequences where chassis and body numbers are in sequence
> together.  Another interesting anomaly to make us wonder why.
>
> It's my understanding that as the cars passed through the assembly 
> process,
> cards were filled out with the applicable Car Number, Body Number, Engine
> Number, colors, optional equipment, etc.  These "build cards" were 
> intended
> to stay at the factory, and were the source data for the microfilm records
> used to produce the certificates.  Three or four BJ8s that I have records
> for somehow made their way out of the factory with the build cards in the
> glovebox, and still have them today.
>
> There is information on the cards and BMIHT archives that is interesting,
> but not included on certificates:  Date off Body Line, Date off Trim Line,
> Date off Test, Date off Rectification, Date off Finishing, and Date 
> Advised.
> The dates on the certificates are the Date off Body Line and Date Advised.
> The production process for some cars was as long as six months.  It would 
> be
> interesting to know why, and what was going on during that time.
>
> Cheers!
> Steve Byers
> HBJ8L/36666
> BJ8 Registry
> Havelock, NC  USA