What is the relevance of the body tag?

[AU_MK2]

Hi guys
With all Pat's hard work in compiling the registry I see a few body tag numbers in there.
The question is.... What does the number relate to? If anything

Mine is 1885 with a tag of 240AC, while my engine number fits in the 982 theory the tag obviously has another story.

I noticed Joseph Stebbins car 3340 has a tag of 1310AC

1885 - 240 = 1645
3340 - 1310 = 2030

Anyone else have tag numbers to add?

[Barry Wolk]

Tags were only on AC cars. The AC cars were slightly different to accommodate the installation of the copper coolant lines to the trunk unit. They probably had provisions for mounting the ceiling ductwork, too.

[Pat Marshall]

Tags were only on AC cars. The AC cars were slightly different to accommodate the installation of the copper coolant lines to the trunk unit. They probably had provisions for mounting the ceiling ductwork, too.

In addition, tags were put on by the body manufacturers not at Continental Assembly. So far no information has been found to decode what the numbers meant. Since the numbers aren't sequential and there appear to be gaps, some have advance the threory that the body manufacture also used the tags on other non-Mark II bodies that they may have been producing.

No body number tags have been found on early Mark IIs, when few were equipped with air conditioning, and it was seldom necessary to identify a body that had the unique features (such as quarter air scoops) to accommodate air conditioning. No body tags up to C56 0 1411. First documented body tag found on C56 0 1428.

No body numbers have been found on 1957 Mark IIs. It is assumed that all bodies for 1957 Mark IIs were equipped for air conditioning (without quarter air scoops) and it was not necessary to distinguish between a/c and non-a/c bodies. Last body tag documented on C56 K 3391. No body tags found on C56K3407 and later.

[Barry Wolk]

I may have a reason for the early cars not having the tags. I can't remember the name of the body maker that did the initial batch of Mark II bodies, but I recall seeing letters in the Continental files concerning the fact that the original builder would not be able to keep up with their production demands. At some point the Mitchell Body Company of Owasso, MI was given the production of bodies in white.

I am presuming that they used the tags to identify bodies in the larger production run.