Getting To The "Rootes" Of The Matter...

[MidcenturyMillennial]

Engine Bay:

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

Fuel Filler/Undercarriage:

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

Miscellany:

*lots of missing practical pieces that even a novice like me can spot; spare, jack, battery cover/vestigial back seat, fan switch...

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

Feast your eyes, gents, and let me have it! I look forward to benefitting from your wisdom and experience!

 

[sunalp]

Car is definitely an S2, from the trunk layout to the accelerator pedal. Has later windscreen, side lights
and top/frame. So long as your title/reg says so, you shouldn't have too many issues registering it as such.

Car's obviously been mucked with. Looked better in the Ebay ad than it does in person, not that that's something
new.
Looks like you'll have your work cut out for you getting it ready to drive.
As far as fuel pump goes I'd just power it up and try all the switches.

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

I'm charging up the jumper pack now! I'll get some fluids in 'er and see if she wakes after work today.

 

[alpine_64]

Yes . Series II...given the narrow side and rear areas in the body for the soft top frame it might be a bit hard to fold the roof down below the body like as the side arms cross over in the rear... Someone put some effort in to add the later interior, screen and doors....

I'd say the vin is original to the car...but the story as to how/ why the mods would be fun to know

 

[RootesRooter]

There should be a VIN stamped on a little ledge on the block just above/right of the fuel pump. That'll tell you what Rootes car your engine came out of.

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

-Mike, Thanks for the heads-up! I think I'll leave the top up for now until I'm feeling brave enough to mess with it.
-Rooter, I think I managed to include a photo of that engine block number in my photos of the engine bay. Anybody with knowledge able to solve that mystery?

*I gave her some Marvel Mystery Oil, starter fluid, and a jump yesterday afternoon, and got the engine to turn over... until the ignition switch housing abruptly broke. (the whole unit just spins in the dashboard now.)

I've got a long-suffering mechanic buddy coming over to take a look at the car on Saturday, weather permitting (He insisted on checking the car in person before allowing it in his squeaky-clean shop. ) If he throws up his hands, I might be In-For-It!

 

[Alpine 1789]

It actually looks pretty solid in the photos. Am I missing anything? If not, a solid car is a really good start. One thing you should check carefully is the gas tank. SII tanks are prone to rusting out and they are near impossible to find. Consider yourself lucky if yours is intact and add lining it to your list of things to do.

 

[RootesRooter]

The VIN is in a different spot from your photos. The ledge is above the gas pump and just forward of the oil filter.

 

[hartmandm]

Normal engine block VIN location.

 

[jdoclogan]

To see if the body matches the VIN plate. The VIN (I can see it there in the latest right side engine compartment photo that includes the body number plate, but, can't read it.) is stamped on the firewall in front of the body number plate. It is on top of the rounded portion just below the top front ledge the body plate is attached.

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

Found one! Looks like 11989441 H 108(?)
H for Humber?

 

[MidcenturyMillennial]

Thanks all for the fantastic tips! I'll take more photos tomorrow when the light is better.

 

[sunalp]

H for Humber?

Most likely Hillman.

 

[RootesRooter]

I believe that's what left of an "A" at the beginning of the VIN.

That would make the engine a 1494cc, out of a '58-'59 Hillman Minx Series III Deluxe. I can't remember if Rootes was already date stamping their blocks in '58-'59, but I would look for a date in raised numbers on the block just above the starter. The engine capacity may also be stamped to the left of the date stamp.

The "H" may be for high-compression.

Chassis/Engine Number Coding

www.sa.hillman.org.au

 

[hartmandm]

I think the second row of letters is "H LSX".

Mike

 

[husky drvr]

Looks like 11989441 H 108(?)

MM,

If you examine the first character closely, you can see the crossbar of a poorly stamped or broken die "A." Rootes used the initial "A" to designate the car that number was assigned to was built in the 1950's decade. Letter "B" designates built in 1960's decade and no Letter is for 1940's and earlier. In the case of your VIN, It has to be an "A" because the other possibilities are prior to the OHV engines like your engine.

A 1989441 H 108 LSX

Hillman Minx Series 111 Special

A1965001

to September 1959

A = 1950's production

1965 = model sequence production designation

001 = beginning of sequence count

H = High compression option ( I think all exports to NA were High Compression unless special order.)

edit

L = left hand drive

S = saloon

X = non-standard or export

You have a 1958-59, 1494 CC, iron head engine, possibly flat top pistons at 8.5:1 compression ratio.

Hope this helps,

 

[hartmandm]

I'm not seeing "108" on that plate ...

Mike