Chassis number info

[TerryDenman]

Hi my dolomite sprint has chassis number VA2252DLO
Can anyone tell me how to find the year or any other info ?

[Carledo]

OK, VA 2252 is in the first batch of Sprints made after the initial "first 2000" (actually 2053 according to my most recent source) which were all Mimosa Yellow.

VA 1-VA 2053 were built in the period between January and June of 73 for the June launch. So I'll say, with some confidence that your car, VA2252 DLO was built between July and September of 1973. The DLO bit denotes a RHD UK manual trans car, factory fitted with overdrive.

Hope this helps, Steve

[tangocharlie1]

As you already have the chassis number, a heritage certificate from Gaydon will give you nearly everything you need to know, including the build date but as mentioned above looking at other Sprints build dates around your chassis number that i have records for you are looking at July/August 73 as a build date.

[GrahamFountain]

OK, VA 2252 is in the first batch of Sprints made after the initial "first 2000" (actually 2053 according to my most recent source) which were all Mimosa Yellow.

VA 1-VA 2053 were built in the period between January and June of 73 for the June launch. So I'll say, with some confidence that your car, VA2252 DLO was built between July and September of 1973. The DLO bit denotes a RHD UK manual trans car, factory fitted with overdrive.

Hope this helps, Steve

VA 2065 was built in July 1973, a little after the launch, and was also Mimosa from new. I think that batch is even a bit bigger than that, possibly to VA 2100. But it would be interesting to see what info you have for 2053.

Graham

[Carledo]

OK, VA 2252 is in the first batch of Sprints made after the initial "first 2000" (actually 2053 according to my most recent source) which were all Mimosa Yellow.

VA 1-VA 2053 were built in the period between January and June of 73 for the June launch. So I'll say, with some confidence that your car, VA2252 DLO was built between July and September of 1973. The DLO bit denotes a RHD UK manual trans car, factory fitted with overdrive.

Hope this helps, Steve

VA 2065 was built in July 1973, a little after the launch, and was also Mimosa from new. I think that batch is even a bit bigger than that, possibly to VA 2100. But it would be interesting to see what info you have for 2053.

Graham

Tango Charlie (above) is the expert, he's spent days trawling through the Gaydon archives! But what he told me is that all cars up to 2053 are Mimosa, 2054 is missing from the records, 2055-2060 (incl) were Magenta, 2061 was again Mimosa. But the point is that 2055 is the first recorded non Mimosa car, so is presumed to be the first one built after launch, so not part of the immortal "1st 2000"

I can see this being a bit of a downer for you, owning 2065! So near and yet not one of the "2000" Not that I think it matters much in any real sense, it's still a VERY early car AND the "right" colour!

I have to admit to some surprise that, mere weeks after launch, they built only a handful in a single different colour (Magenta) then went back to Mimosa, though I have no more info on how many more Mimosa cars were in the 2061/2065> series or even what colour 62, 63 and 64 were.

Steve

[GrahamFountain]

I'd been going off the data I had from Mike Barker, et al., on known cars, which had no other colours than yellow to after VA 2100 - and Inca not being the yellow used till later still. I'd been thinking of going to Gaydon to fiche in the BMIHT archives myself, but never had the chance.

I also knew that if PR had promised 2000 in the showrooms, manufacturing would have had to build a few more than 2000 to make that come true; based on some info about line failure and other loss rates on one of the Rovers from when British Aerospace owned BL. So, that BL might have built an extra 5 or 10 percent didn't seem surprising on such a small batch; especially as the FIA would have demanded at least 5000 cars were built by 1 Jan 1974, when they gave their Group-1 homologation approval - the rules on when the cars had to be built were a bit more relaxed on the 400 cars needed for Group-4; at least, they were well relaxed for the homologation of the Vauxhall Chevette HS and the TR8/TR7V8.

But this data from Tango Charlie clears that up, if it's a bit Tango Sierra for me. But thanks for not suggesting I should just Foxtrot Oscar. Over.

My guess at why there was that small run of magenta ones then a return to mimosa cars, like the extended first batch, would be that some high mucky muck in the company wanted a magenta one for themselves or as a small - in comparison to the ones Graham Barton (it's now proved correctly) revealed - 'gift'. I've some reason to suspect a couple of the 60 TR7 Sprints of 1977 were painted none standard colours and went that way. It's certainly nothing much compared to the suitcases full of cash going to any "individual whose good offices are considered essential to successfully conclude major business" at the time. British Aerospace don't seem to have given anyone an aeroplane. But they did give someone a yacht as a sweetener.

Refs., on the truth of what Graham Barton revealed are "Leyland's internal report", David Leigh and Rob Evans, The Guardian, Fri 8 Jun 2007, and "Newspaper hoax masked Labour role in scandal", David Leigh and Rob Evans, The Guardian, Tue 24 Jan 2006.

Graham

[tangocharlie1]

Steve, I currently cannot confirm the details for VA2062, 63 and 64 they are on my list for my next visit amongst a few other clarifications that i need to check, although i suspect that they all may be Mimosa as i noted that from around this time onwards the cars seemed to be painted in batches i.e. a number of sequential Sprints the same colour (as many as 17 in a row i have found the most up to this point, these were Piemento btw. I have no idea at the moment why that may be) i can tell you that after Grahams car VA2065 (Mimosa) that VA2066 is a White LHD Sprint which is denoted as "French market". (I believe this may be the earliest white Sprint built). I have no idea if it survives.

To Answer Grahams question the first Sprint that is not Mimosa in colour. The details i have for this car is VA2055 -Magenta Eng No. VA2141 unfortunately i cannot make out the build date which is very frustrating. As mentioned VA2054 is missing from the records which as i have discovered is sure sign that it has been moved from the production line to the mysterious Engineering Division where cars seem to disappear VA11, VA12 and VA13 (Missing from the press launch were also moved here).

[Robert 352]

Terry has mistakenly quoted the wrong number here for the car which he purchased recently. The photograph I have here shows the chassis number as VA22521 DLO. It is not therefore one of the earlier manufactured Sprints.

Terry has an eminently restorable car and one which I am sure he will restore very satisfactorily.

It is one of the 50 plus Sprints which are known to us here in New Zealand.

Robert

[xvivalve]

Terry has mistakenly quoted the wrong number here for the car which he purchased recently. The photograph I have here shows the chassis number as VA22521 DLO. It is not therefore one of the earlier manufactured Sprints.

Terry has an eminently restorable car and one which I am sure he will restore very satisfactorily.

It is one of the 50 plus Sprints which are known to us here in New Zealand.

Robert

There’s always a positive: this means the grab handles I supplied him with will be far easier for him to fit as his car should have the appropriate captive nuts. I’d previously told him he might have to fashion some fixings in order to fit them.

[Carledo]

22521 is a series 3 car, hard to be precise ATM as i'm away from my data, but a rough approximation of build date would be 3 months either side of November 77.

It's also more likely to be Inca Yellow than Mimosa.

Steve

[tangocharlie1]

Steve, I currently cannot confirm the details for VA2062, 63 and 64 they are on my list for my next visit amongst a few other clarifications that i need to check, although i suspect that they all may be Mimosa as i noted that from around this time onwards the cars seemed to be painted in batches i.e. a number of sequential Sprints the same colour (as many as 17 in a row i have found the most up to this point, these were Piemento btw. I have no idea at the moment why that may be) i can tell you that after Grahams car VA2065 (Mimosa) that VA2066 is a White LHD Sprint which is denoted as "French market". (I believe this may be the earliest white Sprint built). I have no idea if it survives.

To Answer Grahams question the first Sprint that is not Mimosa in colour. The details i have for this car is VA2055 -Magenta Eng No. VA2141 unfortunately i cannot make out the build date which is very frustrating. As mentioned VA2054 is missing from the records which as i have discovered is sure sign that it has been moved from the production line to the mysterious Engineering Division where cars seem to disappear VA11, VA12 and VA13 (Missing from the press launch were also moved here).

Okay its been a while but some clarification after another visit to Gaydon archive.
To RECAP the last Mimosa Sprint from the 1st batch post launch is VA2054. VA2055 (Missing from records) VA2056 thru to VA2061 our MAGENTA
VA2056 MAGENTA ENGINE NUMBER VA 2141
VA2057 MAGENTA (Build date 13 JUL 73)
VA2058 MAGENTA
VA2059 MAGENTA
VA2060 MAGENTA
VA2061 MAGENTA ENG NO. 2035
It would seem that these 6 MAGENTA cars appear to be built in JULY 73 and held back for 1st Aug Registration. Before going back to Mimosa.
VA2062 MIMOSA – ENG NO. 2142
We know Grahams car is VA2065 and Mimosa but i have been unable to confirm what colour VA2063 and VA2064 are (Although i suspect Mimosa)(I have confirmed that VA2066 is a White French market LHD Sprint).
Although other Colour options now seem to be available from August 73 the majority certainly up to around 2500 series are predominately MIMOSA. With the rest being a spattering of Carmine, Sapphire, White, Magenta and Emerald. The earliest French blue Sprint i currently have on my records shows up at VA 2574.

Research continues.