9 replies to this topic

[Felixta22]

Hi,

i was helping to work on my uncle's mini the other day, and came across that on the papers the car is called an Austin A30. So i was doing some research into it as obviously its definatley not an A30 and found this:

 

The first Austin se7ens produced at Longbridge were actually called Austin A30 850 Se7en's and registered as such. This must have been because the prototypes had a A30 grille fitted to them. So it would appear that the homologation office at Longbridge issued the new car registration forms as such, which must have been an error.

 

The cars a 1960, So i now know why its called that but any one know any more info, or how rare it is. But mainly interested if anyone knew how many were produced with this error?

 

any info would be greatly appreciated

 

cheers

Edited by Felixta22, 27 May 2013 - 07:02 PM.

[mab01uk]

Seen quite a few early 1960 Austin Se7ens with A30 also on the log book which may be because the disguised 'orange box' prototypes carried an A30 grille or they were hedging their bets on what name would catch on (no official Austin Mini then).......I think it could also be that the Austin Dealers who registered the cars details when new were used to selling the Austin A30 /35 and saw the new Austin 7 small car as an update of the A30.......whereas Morris Dealers knew it as a Mini-Minor from the start?

Remember all the new car details, chassis numbers, etc, were hand written by the Dealer back then including log books with errors......no DVLA computer records then!

 

More info here:

http://mk1-forum.net....php?f=5&t=5907

Edited by mab01uk, 27 May 2013 - 10:21 PM.

[matt615]

My 1960 had this error and was called an a30 on the log book. It got picked up by the MOT tester a couple of years ago, who reported it to the Dvla, so I then had to get it updated to say Austin Seven.

[Dan]

  Until quite recently cars were very commonly registered slightly wrongly by dealers.  As said above registration was done by someone going to the local office with forms for loads of cars at the same time and filling in paperwork by hand.  Often with their own ida of what a model was called.  This was then read by data entry clerks who also had little idea of what car was what.  I've had cars with some very odd things written on the paperwork.

[Felixta22]

Cheers for the info guys. Nice to know it has a bit of a story behind it with the dealer f**king up the log book when registering it.

 

thanks again

[Tamworthbay]

My 1960 had this error and was called an a30 on the log book. It got picked up by the MOT tester a couple of years ago, who reported it to the Dvla, so I then had to get it updated to say Austin Seven.

Can I ask how the DVLA changed it for you? I have a 1948 Corgi motorbike. The writing is faded on the original logbook and the V5 says 1943. I have provided evidence that Brockhpuse didn't make them in 43 but they won't budge. It doesn't make a lot of difference except that insurers can't find it on their system as they weren't made in that year.

[mattprinn1997]

It would really depend on how early it was, by reading what you have put it seems to have been an Austin as3 which is an a30 but with a few slight differences, if you tell me the year I would be able to tell you as much as you need to know about it; I've grown up with Austins and half my mind is filled with useless information about them

Edited by mattprinn1997, 28 May 2013 - 01:38 PM.

[matt615]

Tamworthbay, I just got a letter from the DVLA saying that the MOT tester had highlighted a discrepancy with the model name on the V5. I had to fill in a form with details on what model it actually was, with photos and other evidence. Then they updated the V5.

I guess they just take more notice when an MOT tester highlights the problem, rather than Joe Public. So maybe you need to find a friendly MOT tester and get him to tell Dvla.

[mab01uk]

MOT problems started when the computer based MOT's started and need exact details entered correctly to match the DVLA computer record.

[Tamworthbay]

Tamworthbay, I just got a letter from the DVLA saying that the MOT tester had highlighted a discrepancy with the model name on the V5. I had to fill in a form with details on what model it actually was, with photos and other evidence. Then they updated the V5.
I guess they just take more notice when an MOT tester highlights the problem, rather than Joe Public. So maybe you need to find a friendly MOT tester and get him to tell Dvla.

Thanks mate, I thought of doing that but can't find a decent garage that understands old bikes. I will have to look harder.