Amazing barn find and a journey of discovery

[210bhp]

I think at his excitement at finding the light fitting and taking photos Brendan, when taking stock in Hull a day later, realised that he had picked up the light fitting but forgotten the bulb holder. In the pitch dark two days later he again detoured on his way back from Yorkshire and picked up the bulb holder from where he left it!

[bjmullan]

I might add that it was pitch dark when I was trying to located the piece of road where I picked up the light assembly. I think I was very lucky in finding it

[210bhp]

The most important fact that we dare not do while negotiating the purchase was to reveal the location of the build number. We had bought the car without really knowing this conclusive proof of what we had. Also, when the car received its coat of black paint the paint tag had been painted over with such a thick layer of black it was impossible to read. All this made me very nervous that we would still be hit with a fake or a cut and shut. Brendan was being positive. I was still wanting that final proof. We did not want to scrape the paint tag for fear of damaging it. The paint would have to be removed carefully at a later date. We decided to concentrate on the build number on the lower dash. 

I am not sure how many of you know how the build number works. There is a sequence and I had given Brendan an indication of what we should find! I had written down two possibilities (depending on where the shell was made) and fully expected one of those numbers to appear. Before even unloading the shell we couldn't wait to check that number. Anticipation was at its peak! 
We dropped the knee bar and  the number was nothing like what we had predicted!! The number on the knee bar made my heart sink. My first thought,
'we have been hoodwinked, I knew it was too good to be true, why didn't we check that bloody number before we bought it'.

I began to think the total front end of this car was a fabrication. A piece of mid 1980's fakery. Damn and bloody double damn.

All the signs were there. Why would this car be RHD anyway. We should have known it was inconceivable it wasn't LHD. We are complete numpties. Taken in by an old farmer. It looked a special car but was it not just a mixed jumble of 68 and 69 parts nailed together? And a bleeding ducktail to boot, why were so stupid to be taken in.....

[DustyM]

Oh come on, you can't stop there!!!!

[jtparr]

Mike
Can I ask how you worked out what you thought the build number was going to be...
Jp

[210bhp]

Oh come on, you can't stop there!!!!

Well, what would you have done next?

It was a bit of a shock I can tell you,

[mrk]

Bloody hell....this is brilliant!

[210bhp]

Mike
Can I ask how you worked out what you thought the build number was going to be...
Jp

This is that sensitive area again.

I was expecting the number to be

1092001. Or
1292001

[jtparr]

Oh, so everything 001...hymmmmmm nice and tidy, but (clearly) not so relevant....thought build numbers were an independent numerical series.....oh well.....just have to wait for the next installment...

[DustyM]

Oh, so everything 001...hymmmmmm nice and tidy, but (clearly) not so relevant....thought build numbers were an independent numerical series.....oh well.....just have to wait for the next installment...

Yes that's what I thought, the first section tells you where and when it was built and the second is a sequential number but not necessarily the same as the chassis number.

[210bhp]

Oh, so everything 001...hymmmmmm nice and tidy, but (clearly) not so relevant....thought build numbers were an independent numerical series.....oh well.....just have to wait for the next installment...

Pm sent

[Peter]

You can't PM at a crucial moment like this!!

[DustyM]

yes, come on out with it.....

[210bhp]

The secret number relates to the body type, engine type, where built, sequential number off the production line, year built but not necessarily in that order.

This is the info which allows anyone to clone a car so it is very sensitive as normally, if you contact the factory, they will only tell you 'yes' or 'no' if your build number matches the chassis number records for your car. You cannot ask for the correct number if you are a 'no'.

There are several RS's out there with all the correct numbers because someone publicly revealed their build number.

I have told Jonathan the sequence since he asked so I will let him pass on the info to you all

[210bhp]

The research

It was now time to do some serious research. 

It was difficult to know who to speak to next. We had to find out if this car was a fake. Eventually after a bit of back and forth (emails, phone calls etc) which all took a fair time we found the relevant information. This would tell us if we had our 'find' or been truly taken-in.

Some of you will know that each car has it's unique 'birth certificate' detailing the original specification of the car as it rolled off the production line. Most of you have guessed what this car is but only the factory spec sheet can be the ultimate proof of it's originality. We managed eventually to see our birth certificate for this car.