Aprilia chassis numbers

[Tony Stephens]

Some expert could perhaps straighten me out on Aprilia chassis numbers for my saloon ARX 560, registered in GB in October 1937.

On the bulkhead under one of the plaques I have found stamped 38 3252 and the familiar star logo. I take this to be (abbreviated) Tipo 238 number 3252. This appears incorrectly in the (1957) buff continuation logbook as 36 3252 under the heading Chassis Number.

The logboook also records a change of chassis number to 2266, although this looks a bit informal and I am not sure it was registered properly, it's just written into the book. However this is a number which can be found stamped on the frame on the right hand bonnet landing flange in a convincing looking font, and now appears as the chassis number in the current registration details.

Wim Oude Weernink's bible does not help me except that it adds credibility to the 3252 number as I know the car is an early one (flat radiator shell when I bought it, concealed windscreen wiper gear).

I am wondering whether we are talking about the Construction Number/Car (Vettura) Number convention which applied to Lambdas, described in detail by Bill Jamieson in Capolavoro. On my Lambda you come across the Construction Number all over the car where the component is original, but the Vettura Nr is the one that counts as a chassis number for registration, and which I believe identified the car to the sales outlets originally.

I am not a number worrier, but having now dismantled the car for welding I was surprised to find this discrepancy and have the luxury of time to sort it out. I may well have mislead the DVLA inspector who came to see me when the old logbooks expired years ago under my previous ownership of this car, but the 2266 was "in the book" and on the frame, so neither of us knew any better then!

[BlueSky]

Tony,

You're correct that the 2266 number on the bonnet flange is the construction number; these ran from 1 to 20082 for all berlinas. The chassis numbers for 1st series berlinas started at 38-1001 but the numbering wasn't continuous. See the attached pdf for the complete Aprilia numbering system. The page from the manual shows where the relevant numbers are found.

The chassis number is only the manufactures plate and, as you have found, stamped on the firewall (very early cars didn't have the chassis number stamped on the bonnet flange). You won't find either of the numbers stamped on any other components, a few have the part number and most will have Lancia & the year stamped on them somewhere. Original parts in your car should have Lancia 1937 inside a little oval.

In the parts books the construction number is used to show when changes were made during production. I've got a bit more info on my page here:
http://www.narrywoolan.com.au/home/1st_series_changes.html

How the numbers got mixed up in the logbook is a mystery though!

Noel

[Tony Stephens]

Thanks, Noel that is extremely helpful and clarifies things. As I knew all along, my car is an early one: and how did I know? Harry Manning told me!

Now to see whether it is realistic to have the chassi number changed in the log book: I shall take advice on that as the DVLA are having a bit of a crisis of confidence here abut chassis number changes.

[Parisien]

Hi Tony, not sure you still own ARX 560....will pm an email comment to you,

P