Body Numbers

Re: Information in Porter's new edition regarding Body numbers (Warning!
Avoid reading further if you are impatient with Jaguar trivia!) I found an
interesting anomaly in Porter's new edition.  I plan to write to him about
this for clarification.  On page 138, second column, third full paragraph,
he says, "Body numbers were prefixed F for the OTS, J for the FHC (but F
until 679991)...."  But my 1951 FHC is chassis number 679012 and has body
number J1016.  Further, on the next page under "Chassis Numbers by Date" he
writes, " Body numbers are not an accurate guide to totals - eg, F1016
missing." Well, that is because I have J1016 - clearly stamped on my
identification tag! Any comments?  John?  Rob? - Carl Hanson, 1951 XK120
FHC Chassis no. 679012,  Body number J1016

Philip Porter was wrong to say that OTS body number 1016 was missing - it
is not, is was allocated to the "for sale" car 660003/670071.  I also have
never previously seen it suggested that early LHD FHC cars had F body
number prefixes, but I cannot say that I have checked that at the factory.
Terry McGrath may be able to tell us.  I have records of about 3 cars
(including Carl's and Rob Reilly's) that disprove this theory, in fact. I
have recorded the highest body numbers for each type of XK as a cross check
against totals built and for the FHC 120, it is J3688 (indicating 2688
bodies built).  There were some errors, for example 669171 had the factory
record a body number with an F prefxi which should have been J.  They did
make mistakes in these records occasionally. - Regards, John Elmgreen

If you have any questions or comments send e-mail to: ted@jag-lovers.org
Main Page	Back to the Library