4AD Serial Numbers for a 52

[wmcvey]

I'm I correct in stating the serial number on the brass "Name and Number plate" should match the serial number stamped on the chassis, but the oval aluminum disc which identifies the 'Body Number" is a unique number? But has the "L4AD" as a prefix, and the "V" on top which identities the year 1952, correct ?

[mikeyr]

Yes you are, unfortunately, I have not yet rebuilt that page yet on the main website, I will put a priority on it. I just put up the old link http://www.singercars.com/dating.html but you are correct in your information and V is 1952. I will have the website fully populated within a week or so. I do wish our network hosting company had warned me they were going to do software updates, caught me off guard.

[tvdwerf]

The Letter change is not 100% sure for a year, somewhere around October is the change.
Mine is an October 1950 with certificate and U on the chassis.
On the certificate the body number, axle numbers, engine and gearbox numbers together with the ignition key number can be found, also the moment from leaving the factory.

[wmcvey]

Yes you are, unfortunately, I have not yet rebuilt that page yet on the main website, I will put a priority on it. I just put up the old link http://www.singercars.com/dating.html but you are correct in your information and V is 1952. I will have the website fully populated within a week or so. I do wish our network hosting company had warned me they were going to do software updates, caught me off guard.

Thanks so much for the reply and the above link. I saw your site wasn't 100% up yet, and I started to panic as there's so much important info on your site for us that are wanting to restore a Singer. Then I remembered about the "Wayback Machine" site that somehow has a snapshot of like ever web site on the internet going back in the past. And they actual had every page of your site on their server from 2001 thur 03/05/19, not sure how it works but it can be a life saver. My dad had stored six different cars in his barn and I got the 52 L4AD Singer from the estate. He bought it 30 years ago and just put it in the barn and never did anything with it.

[wmcvey]

The Letter change is not 100% sure for a year, somewhere around October is the change.
Mine is an October 1950 with certificate and U on the chassis.
On the certificate the body number, axle numbers, engine and gearbox numbers together with the ignition key number can be found, also the moment from leaving the factory.

Thanks for the reply, but have a question. "Certificate" ? What is this certificate your referencing.

[tvdwerf]

I had the option in the Dutch Singer club, to order a copy from the factory production book with all the numbers.
Together with this copy, a certificate is given on your name where all the numbers from your car are written on.
So if you have a matching number car, this is the way to prove.
One of my Singers is matching full, the other is just a complete car but not a single part original. I think the chassis is changed so not easy to find out.

I hope this is giving you the right information, in the picture you can read the contact details

[wmcvey]

I had the option in the Dutch Singer club, to order a copy from the factory production book with all the numbers.
Together with this copy, a certificate is given on your name where all the numbers from your car are written on.
So if you have a matching number car, this is the way to prove.
One of my Singers is matching full, the other is just a complete car but not a single part original. I think the chassis is changed so not easy to find out.

I hope this is giving you the right information, in the picture you can read the contact details

Thanks for the info, I'll send them an email. Too bad that authenticity certificate letter uses up 3/4 of the page as a disclaimer.
Would think that one small paragraph at the bottom would have been sufficient.
It will be awhile before I get to all those location and find these numbers. My brass plate was loose, not screwed in for some reason. The body plate is readable but still trying to locate / read that chassis number.

[tvdwerf]

I showed the backside
The front side has the same information as the other document, but not all of it

But this is the front:

[tvdwerf]

The location from the chassis number for a 4A is on the front right, just behind the bumper mounts.
Rear axle, on top in the middle, gear box on top, front axle is different for a 4A on the outside, I do not know if the 4AD has an axle number.
Engine number on top of the clutch / flywheel housing.

I have 2 cars, and was very lucky all the parts from the matching number one, was mounted on the right car, because I got the cars in a lot of single parts.

[mikeyr]

And I have added the pages to the new format on the website, working on getting EVERYTHING DONE but since this came up, I did these first.

The years and how to identify what year.

https://www.singercars.com/dating-your-singer/

2 pictures of where the number is on the chassis.

https://www.singercars.com/4ad-serial-numbers/

And some other information on the serials.

https://www.singercars.com/4ad-serial-number-locations/

[wmcvey]

I showed the backside
The front side has the same information as the other document, but not all of it

But this is the front:

I did reach out to that email your certificate and wanted to ask your experience dealing with these folks. Initially they said it would cost £50 and wanted to do the transaction over the phone? After telling them I wasn't that comfortable with a phone transaction if they would have a website or possibly take Paypal as an option. Then realizing I was overseeing said it would be 60 to cover shipping and will let me know regarding payment? Sound normal in your experience with them?

[tvdwerf]

I did this for more than one car, using the Dutch club as contact.
So if you have this option in your area, the costs for sending oversea are a bit lower.
GBP 60 should not be a big issue for getting all the information and a certificate, also not when you have an almost matching car.
My experience is that is always possible to pay by bank in the UK, it should only take a little more time.

[wmcvey]

I did this for more than one car, using the Dutch club as contact.
So if you have this option in your area, the costs for sending oversea are a bit lower.
GBP 60 should not be a big issue for getting all the information and a certificate, also not when you have an almost matching car.
My experience is that is always possible to pay by bank in the UK, it should only take a little more time.

Just wanted to thank you for your suggestion on the "Coventry Transport Museum" and their certificate of authenticity.
Everything worked out in the end, and making the payment by PayPal was an option it turned out.
Received mine in the mail, and it was very complete and looks nice too. Thanks again, Bill