MKII Sprite - is it a lemon ?

I hope someone can help.

I am going to look at a 1963 Sprite on Saturday, which has been fully restored by the current owner, and is now for sale. The registration is 969 CVF, first registered in June 1963.

However I am concerned over its identity: according to your website, the VIN should begin H-AN7 for a 1098cc MKII.

Neither the car nor the V5 has this number on it. Instead, the number A021307 appears on the metal plate and on the V5. A second panel which used to be on the door pillar (prior to restoration), read ABL015291. This plate is no longer on the car but the owner has the number written down.

Also, I note these later MKIIs had front disc brakes, this has drums all round.

Is this a lemon, or is there an explanation ? I really like the car and want to buy it, but I am worried about the identity. Please can someone shed some light on this ?

If you want to make sure of the vin number it is stamped on the body next to where left leverarm bolts to the body as viewed from the front of the car
you may need to clean to find it but it will be there hope this helps

Interesting, I was just reading Terry Horler's book "Original Sprite & Midget" and it says on P.50 that in October of '62 they switched to teh 1098 Engine, front disc brakes and ribcage transmission. So I suppose some of the very early sqaure rigged midgets had drums. Interesting. I agree with Steve, look for a number plate on the chassis in the engine bay next to the front lever.

My '62 MkI Midget had drums all 'round and 948cc (Osselli Big-Bore to 1050cc! WooHoo!). First registered May 1st '62. (MOO375)

Drums would be correct for an early Mk 2. The Mk "2.5" got the 1100cc engine, but still had the early Mk2 body with side curtains. The Mk 3 added roll-up windows, while the Mk 4 did away with the packaway top and added the 1275cc engine.

What you are looking at is probably a '61 with a 948 engine. First year or registeration means nothing. These cars were sold as current model year regardless of year of manfacture. My '61 Midget was sold new as a '63. The origional engine could be long gone. If it has a smooth case trans, it was a 948.
In that it has drums on all four cornors I think your looking at a HAN6 MKII 948 made after Feb 1961. Does it have a generator driven Tach?
Dave

My MKII was raced in the 60's and somewhere along the line had the VIN plate removed. I sent my body number (yours being ABL015291) to the British Heritage Trust and they supplied me with my BHT certificate which contains the build date and much other valuable info. It took the guess work out of trying to figure out what I had.

On a side note I just took my paperwork to the Secretary of State (Michigans version of a DMV) and had to fight tooth and nail to keep the lazy woman behind the counter from issuing a assembled vehicle title for my car. It seems that was her answer for the situation since she had no clue on how to re-issue my long lost title. I eventually won !!!
Something to think about....... If I ever go off the deep end I'm not going to a church or a school or a post office to start my shooting spree, I'm going to the Secretary of State office. I'm comfortable there could never be a jury of 12 people who wouldn't have wanted to do the same thing.......