1950’s roadster

[David Z]

I just acquired a 1950’s singer 9
Many questions are circling my mind.
The first is about the vin# ... the car has a large rectangular vin plate under the hood w/ vin# L4AD1413
But next to it on the fire wall is a oval plate that has a V and L4AD1260
Is this normal or it it a problem?
And what year is the car?

Hope to get some knowledgeable results here otherwise I have no where else to go it seems.

Thanks
David Z
CAlifornia
USA

[Peter McKercher]

The correct vin number should be the one on the brass manufacturer's plate ( if it corresponds to the number stamped on the chassis). The aluminum oval disc is the body number. See http://www.singercars.com/car_numbers/4AD_chassis.html to verify your chassis number and location.

With respect to year of manufacture, your car is a '52. See http://www.singercars.com/4ax/dating.html for codes.


***Edited by Mikeyr to fix link for year codes ***

[mikeyr]

as Peter pointed out in the links above, everything seems to be correct on your car. The oval plate is the body number and not the VIN although many cars in California have that as the VIN because it was easily found by the DMV official. The correct VIN in the one on the brass plate that will also be stamped in to the chassis, but that number usually can't be seen due to rust/oil/grime/etc from years of being on the road.

As to getting help on 4AD's, well lets just say you are in the right place, glad to have another Singer in Calif.

[tvdwerf]

The numbers on the list are not the same as mine, is this the list for US cars?
I have a 1950 car with a much higher than 4A2675T number, and the 1951 4A5972U is a few numbers lower as my other car...

[mikeyr]

Those numbers are WORLD production for Singer and are considered accurate by the various Singer clubs around the world.

[David Z]

Thanks to this forum I can now confirm I have a of 1952
I have started the motor and it sounds healthy.
My next step is to try and locate the vin on the frame and determine if the transmission is good or bad
Would a 1952 have a 4 speed ?

[Peter McKercher]

Yes. Four speed gear box with ratios 4.875, 6.12, 9.45 and 14.53 to 1. Reverse 14.53:1

[tvdwerf]

Strange, in the Dutch list from cars, starts above 4A3000T, an goes higher as 4A5000T.
Mine, the 4A5981U is the oldest 1951 in the list, in total 8 of them has higher numbers as mine...
The 1950 one in my barn has the number 4A4057T, both cars are checked by the Dutch RDW.
The 1950 body numbers are also both higher in number

[Peter McKercher]

Perhaps it's time we have a re-look at the numbers. The list on the site is from the SOC UK from years ago and new information may have surfaced.

[mikeyr]

I agree it may be time to look into the numbers. The real issue is that information is not happily shared between clubs, so if any new information is out there this website (me) may never know about it.

[tvdwerf]

The easy way, ask the visitors to send their numbers in a PB, to keep it private if they want.
The letters behind are clear enough to tell the year for the 4A

[Peter McKercher]

Good job for our roadster registrars.

[DGreen]

That's pretty interesting that the numbers are so high. On another note, the body number on the oval tag and the number and the number on the brass plaque match on my car.

[tvdwerf]

Something else, is it possible to buy the copper identification plate somewhere new?
I have only one, the one for the 1950 car is missing.
An option is to make a copy from the 1951 one, and let them make a few more to keep the price low

[David Z]

I have confirmed the transmission has all the gears and the differential is not making noise.
The parking brake is working but the rest of the brake system is frozen.
Will be sorting out that next I guess.
And I am unable to locate the second vin # on the right frame rail.
Might it be under a bracket or on the top of the frame rail?

Thanks
DZ