What happened to 1248?

[Barry Wolk]

It's pretty clear to me that 1248 was parted out due to a dash fire. As an early car it was likely an Introductory Unit that was damaged by the very cover designed to protect it. There is no invoice , nor Production order for it.

IMO, it was likely parted out due to the smell of a wiring fire and was likely used for parts, as many cars came from the factory missing parts, like radios and trim, as noted in the Production Orders.

Since the engine and chassis were the only parts with serial numbers, what happened to them? What number engine would 1248 have had, and what car is it installed in?

What number would 1126 have had, and where is it's engine as mine was changed out to a '57 in '56 trim.

28485

[jdsnoddy]

The variation range is 989 to 973 less than the VIN.
The best guess is 1248-989 which equals engine number 259. Final answer.

[Barry Wolk]

How can you answer so definitively if there's a range?

Does anyone have an engine number in their car that matches this range?

Does anyone have the engine that matches my original engine for 1126?

[jdsnoddy]

Based on the engine number variation of 1257 which was 989. Doing further research on 1126. Please stand by.

[Pat Marshall]

We don't know many engine numbers, but here are original engines that that we know of that are still in Pre-Production & Introductory Cars -

VIN ENG Diff
983 10 973
984 9 975
985 11 974
1001 18 983
1003 15 988
1009 20 989
1015 26 989
1019 30 989
1029 40 989
1030 41 989
1081 93 988
1088 100 988
1111 122 989
1135 147 988
1209 221 988
1223 234 989
1235 246 989
1247 259 988
1254 265 989
1258 272 986
1275 286 989
1291 302 989

Regarding the original engine for 1126, which was probably either 137 or 138. We have found no record of either of those engines. As I recall Joe Marcione scrapped that engine when he replaced it with engine #2936 from Francis Maffucci's parts car #3917.

[Pat Marshall]

The variation range is 989 to 974 less than the VIN.
The best guess is 1248-989 which equals engine number 259. Final answer.

Engine #259 was installed at the factory in Car #1247! I have found no record of engine #260.

[jdsnoddy]

I agree on 260. Very good work. My sample size was too small. Thanks for this.
Also, the variation 973 is a new one on me.
Judging by the engine numbers, it seems as if Allen Park operations were fairly chaotic for the early units.

As a caveat, I have not done analysis on each of the 3,005 units. So the variation range of 989-973 applies in every instance that I know of. I welcome input from other members who may have engines which fall outside of this range.

So the operative question is: was engine 137 or 138 utilized in an another Mark II project? Who replaced 137 or 138? Was it replaced on behalf of Al Cooper? Was it replaced by design? Was there something seriously wrong like a cracked block? Or was it just switched by mistake?
Please Barry, gives us what you think..
Very best regards,
John

[Pat Marshall]

I believe I addressed the engine replacement above.

[Barry Wolk]

I agree on 260. Very good work. My sample size was too small. Thanks for this.
Also, the variation 973 is a new one on me.
Judging by the engine numbers, it seems as if Wixom operations were fairly chaotic for the early units.

As a caveat, I have not done analysis on each of the 3,005 units. So the variation range of 898-973 applies in every instance that I know of. I welcome input from other members who may have engines which fall outside of this range.

So the operative question is: was engine 137 or 138 utilized in an another Mark II project? Who replaced 137 or 138? Was it replaced on behalf of Al Cooper? Was it replaced by design? Was there something seriously wrong like a cracked block? Or was it just switched by mistake?
Please Barry, gives us what you think..
Very best regards,
John

Other than the Mark II invoices being found there, what was the connection to Wixom?

[jdsnoddy]

I believe I addressed the engine replacement above.
My bad. Got it now. Scrapped. Thanks so much.
While I thought this subject matter was superfluous,
I did learn a lot out of this discussion. Thanks to all involved.
I misspoke on Wixom I should have said Allen Park.

[Pat Marshall]

What happened to 1248 is uncertain. There is no documentation that it was parted out in Chicago, sent back to Dearborn, or handled otherwise. It just disappeared along with supporting documentation back in Dearborn. We are left with theories.

Add that to the theory, that at least one of the two hand-built prototypes (#9500 or #9501) was not "crushed" but parted out.

The termination of the Continental Division and the destruction of records has led to many un-answered questions.

[jdsnoddy]

Another theory: perhaps they crushed 1248 in lieu of a prototype unit.
Perhaps in time, we will find 1248, if it exists, and it's related engine #260.

If the car did not survive, we might get lucky and find the engine

[Pat Marshall]

Not understanding "in lieu of a prototype Unit".

Regarding the engine, we'd be even luckier if we could get owners to report their engine numbers.

[rlafash]

C5691211
Engine #233

[jdsnoddy]

Dick:
Thanks for this info. 1211 minus 233 is 978 variation. Appreciate your input.

[rlafash]

You're welcome. Sent to Pat Marshall also.