Briggs Body Tag Numbers

Just checked my book of records NZ Fordors:

190- 139394 CA 140096
190 -140339 CA 140123 Tank date 2 22 29
CA 140161 Tank date 2 18 29
CA 140567 Tank date 2 7 29
191 -141869 CA 142878 Tank date 3 9 29

Hope this is of use.

Cheers
Bick
 
It is sad that there are no Briggs or Murray records (or maybe they have never been found yet) available.

I am wondering if some of these "missing" records have not ended up in some state depository as in University or archives or even the National Archives!?!?!?!?

Lot's of places to look...so little time.

Pluck
 
Bick in New Zealand said:
Just checked my book of records NZ Fordors:

190- 139394 CA 140096
190 -140339 CA 140123 Tank date 2 22 29
CA 140161 Tank date 2 18 29
CA 140567 Tank date 2 7 29
191 -141869 CA 142878 Tank date 3 9 29

Hope this is of use.

Cheers
Bick
Click to expand...

You said "NZ Fordors" without being specific. I'm betting 191-141869 is a 60-C Steel back.

The 60-B should have been in full production by the end of 1928. The only record I have of what I'm confident was a 60-B is 190-100999, gas tank stamped 1-10-29, Engine build date 1-14-29.

What's interesting is that Vince's example is later than mine by almost 57,000. In 1929 the production figures combined the 60-B, 60-C, 170-A for a world wide total of 167178.

Now we'll put three examples in chronological order:

190-100999 - Jan '29 (Marco) Leather back
191-141869 - Feb '29 (Justin) Steel back (?)
190-157738 - ??? '29 (Vince) Leather back

Total production of Fordors (all Leather backs) in 1928 was 88,528. That suggests Briggs 1929 Fordor production began with #89,000 +/-. It's clear that Briggs combined multiple models in the serial number sequencing. It will be interesting to see what other Briggs models fit into the sequence shown above. I'm guessing it's limited to the 60-A, 60-B, 60-C, and possibly the 170-A which replaced the 60-C July/August 1929. It's possible it includes the 155-B and 165-B but I doubt it.
 
Timothy Kelly said:
Marco:

In the for what it's worth department, Dennis Smith's body number research, as reported on the MAFCA site, states that the steelback Fordor used prefix 195. The same report makes no mention of prefix 191.

Are you suggesting that the steelback Fordors used both prefixes, 191 and 195? Or, are you suggesting that maybe Dennis' report is in error concluding that the 195 was the designated prefix for the steelback Fordor?

Timothy
Click to expand...

I overlooked that. I don't yet have an answer. I can think of two scenarios where Briggs could have used both numbers but going there is premature. I have some feelers out there but may come up empty.
 
Regarding New Zealand sold Model A's, the only Briggs Fordor imported here was the 60A fabric back. My information does not differentiate between fabric color.
Other Fordors imported were all Murray types via Canada.
 
Last edited:
Some very interesting questions, but unfortunately not too many answers.
New Zealand imported 228 Fordors in 1928. In 1929, 213. We also received 25 Town sedans and 365 3W Fordors. Unfortunately Ford of Canada didn't specify 60A,B, or C. They were all lumped in the Fordor coloumn!
Marco was right, I didn't pay too much attention to whether they were A,B, or C. I have only seen one original Fordor here. All the rest have been restored or played with over the years.
I see on the entrants list for our upcoming National Model A Rally, a 60C is listed, so I will make a point of checking it out to see if we can find out anymore.
On a side note the NZ parts book, July 1932 lists 60A for both 28/29.
The Briggs plate for the early Fordors was rather flimsy, and this unfortunately has led to their demise.
 
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