Earliest Mk 2

[Kithmo]

Is it possible for a Mk 2 Stag to be registered in April 1972 ?

[Ferds]

I'm sure someone will tell you there is no such thing as a Mk1 Mk1.5 or Mk2....
They were just gradual variations across the years...

You need to detail the bits that make you think it's Mk2 - most people will know when those features appeared and can base whether your car is a 1972 on that...

which type of striker plate late do you have ? 2 holes or 3 holes...
a 2 hole striker / catch is later than 1973...

[mole42]

According to records, the first 3rd sanction car (usually thought if as "Mk2") was October 17th 1972 with the chassis number LD20001.

[Kithmo]

I have been looking at an April 1972 (K) registered Stag which has been rebuilt and it has all the Mk2 features, two hole striker, Mk2 seats, bumpers, single interior light, needles on gauges pointing upwards etc. The V5 has the commision number that is on the B-post, the plate has been removed and replaced for painting, but I'm wondering if this has just been transferred from another car. Is it just that this is a MK1.5 or 2nd sanction ?

[mole42]

Highly unlikely that an early 1972 car would have all those Mk2 features.
Has it got a seat belt warning light or hazard lights?
Has it got the delay wiper function?
Has it got the 5-position master light switch?

Mine was built November 1972 and is 3rd sanction but is absolutely a Mk1½ car. It has the early striker plates, no hazards, wiper delay....and I have a letter from the man (son of 1st owner) who rebuilt it so I know it's not been messed with.

[Kithmo]

Thanks for that mole42, sounds like it could be a ringer.

[Jeff]

Prefix	Serial No	Suffix	Meaning
LE			US Federal specification
LD			All other engines
	1 onwards		1970 pre-production and 1971 model year Mk 1 cars
	10001 onwards		1972 and some 1973 model year Mk 1 cars
	20001 onwards		1973 and some 1974 model year Mk 2 cars
	30001 onwards		1974 & 1975 model year Mk 2 cars
	40001 onwards		1976 & 1977 model year Mk 2 cars
		HE	High compression engine
		HEA	High compression engine for Borg-Warner Type 65 automatic gearbox
		HEBW	High compression engine for Borg-Warner Type 35 automatic gearbox
		UE	US Federal engine
		UEBW	US Federal engine for Borg-Warner Type 35 automatic gearbox
Notes:	1) Model years ran from autumn to autumn meaning that the 1971 model year ran from autumn 1970 to autumn 1971.

[Guest]

Thanks for that mole42, sounds like it could be a ringer.

Why?

Many, many people when they restore a car, put the bits on it that they like / can source rather than slavishly follow the period. Mine is an Aug ''74 and has chrome sill covers, as I prefer that look to the chrome strip it should have. Also as the one you are looking at is 45 years old, it is quite likely to have been changed a bit during it's lifetime due to general maintenance before any restoration took place.

[Jeff]

Should that read chrome willy covers?

You are quite right Ian, unless you have owned the car from new, who knows what's been 'done'.

[Guest]

Lol....edited now Jeff!

[DJT]

Everything listed is easy to change during a rebuild except the door strikers. My money is on the Commision Plate for a Mk1 being fixed to a Mk2 shell for VED avoidance reasons. There are a lot out there.

As Mole42 says, the Mk2 started at LD20001, but as this still had the Mk1 shell (door strikers) they are usually referred to as Mk1.5. Mine is from near the end of this Sanction. The 'Mk2' shells started from LD30001, but actually overlapped production with the last of the LD20000 series. There are Stags within the LD30000 series that were built before my car.
Confused yet?

This might help: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/content-...le-Information

[LAMBRETTLAD]

the easy way to find out :Attend a classic car show ,wait an hour or so until the man who knows everything about Stags comes along

and tells you everything which is wrong about yours, and which bits and bobs you need to change to match your REG.

He knows cause he saw one once .

His brother attends scooter shows !!!!

[Kithmo]

Why?

Many, many people when they restore a car, put the bits on it that they like / can source rather than slavishly follow the period. Mine is an Aug ''74 and has chrome sill covers, as I prefer that look to the chrome strip it should have. Also as the one you are looking at is 45 years old, it is quite likely to have been changed a bit during it's lifetime due to general maintenance before any restoration took place.

Because it seems to have everything from a mk2 on it except the commision number and reg, there's nothing Mk1 on it. even the engine number indicates Mk2, ending in HEA (BW65 later box).
Let me put it this way, would you (all) be happy to buy it, or would you leave well alone ?

[Rubce]

the easy way to find out :Attend a classic car show ,wait an hour or so until the man who knows everything about Stags comes along

and tells you everything which is wrong about yours, and which bits and bobs you need to change to match your REG.

He knows cause he saw one once .

His brother attends scooter shows !!!!

I've met him as well. He appears to get about a fair bit!!

Bruce

[Guest]

Because it seems to have everything from a mk2 on it except the commision number and reg, there's nothing Mk1 on it. even the engine number indicates Mk2, ending in HEA (BW65 later box).
Let me put it this way, would you (all) be happy to buy it, or would you leave well alone ?

Depends on price I guess.

A mk1, unless a very early numbers, is worth no more than a late mk 2, as there as no special desirability for a mk1, and lots of Stags have different TV8's / gearboxes than they started out with.

If it had lots of provenance, low owners, low miles, full history (apparently) and everything original, then it would be a lot of money, otherwise it is just a Stag. Do your due diligence on previous MOT's etc, and if you like it and it is decent money, I don't see a problem.