Hi, can someone please remind me what the small long rectangular ID tag that is mounted on firewall near were the bigger ID tag is mounted above steering shaft what this tag number stands for as it does not match the bigger tag or the stamped in serial number on the opposite side near heater valve. Also is it suppose to be painted body color or be bare aluminum as mine engine compartment had been painted a few times over the years and mine seems like a lot of painted coats are on it.

Thank you,
Peter

Peter, it’s the body number, usually doesn't line up with the “plated number”. The body number relates to the production line, a few or more were yanked off for various reasons, hence the disagreement. Your model/serial number on the pedal box is the correct one.

Great, thank you for all that information. I just noticed on another ‘64 P1800 reference car I have here that the numbers don’t match either so my worries that the ID plate on my ‘63 was changed is not true and body numbers could be different than serial numbers as you stated. I noticed as well that the ID plate on the pedal box for my car is punched into plate and on the ‘64 the numbers are all raised or punched from back side of plate, would you know if that is possible to have two cars a year apart be ID differently with the way the factory manufacture the ID plates?

Thank you again,
Peter

This is the Chassis Number that really matters, it's stamped into the body above the battery box and should be the same as that on the ID Plate. Like modern cars this is the VIN the enamelled aluminium plate is for consumer and dealer information but with 4 Phillips head screws it's not DMV standard.

Excellent, mine does match to the stamped in numbers, thanks for the photo and information. Still wondering if the long narrow chassis tag number plate held in with two screws should be restored to body color paint or be bare aluminum, seems to me perhaps factory would of painted the engine bay first before screwing the tag in like the bigger "enamelled aluminium plate"

I think the answer regarding painted or unpainted lies beneath the Body Number plate, if it is screwed on it should be simple enough to resolve. Take it off and see what the colour is underneath.

These body number plates were attached by the maker of the bodies just to keep track of their movement. Picture of these bodies arriving at the factory are out there. Bodies would be dollied up ready for the move into the factory. QC would check the body for dings and other defects before the bodies went to the paint shop. Bigger defects would mean that the body could lose its place in the queue for quite some time. Hence the mismatch to the chassis number. This is the same for Amazon and PV bodies. I think the practice started around 1960 as early PV's don't have the plate AFAIK. With the 1800 it might have started so that they could track the bodies for the UK produced Jensen production and then used for all other model bodies.

“ Still wondering if the long narrow chassis tag number plate held in with two screws should be restored to body color paint or be bare aluminum,”
AFAIK, they were painted with the body, so body colour. Mine is body colour.

Mine is so thick with paint I thought it was rivited. I’d bet it entered the assembly plant with the number and was factory painted when the process began.

My chassis is 11155 and the body 11110 so unlike others that think the discrepancy is due to some bodies being rejected on the line or just before, my opinion is that truck loads of them would arrive at Jenson or in Sweden from Pressed Steel and be stacked in the yard from which they were drawn into paint and assembly with the variance in Chassis-Body number being due to random draw. The

This "matching numbers" thing might have some value on American cars, where it confirms engine is the same as what it left the factory with, but there is no such thing as "matching numbers" for vintage Volvos, and I have frankly never understood or even seen the point of it...for a real laugh, I have even heard it used in reference to a vintage Volvo for sale...better bring that magnet when you go look at the car...!

Volvo switched how they stamped plates in that time period. Nothing to worry about.

Awesome, thank you very much for all your knowledge and replies.

Much appreciated,
Peter