featherbed es2

Yes, unless you have a number that can get you a dating cert it will be assumed to be a new frame and a Q plate beckons plus road tax and MOT's. The engine being old will be on no use, the DVLA will go by the newest major component eg the Frame.

You have the original registration plate? You may be able to work back from there to a frame number.  Where are you looking for the frame number. Engine and tank mount castings are the norm but I have also seen them on the steering head casting especially if it’s a replacement frame.  

Don’t separate it without taking photos of its original condition.  This may help to at least get an age related plate, should you find a number, or even get a personalised one.

Search for the number, unless it’s been recently hacked around with.  Back in the day there was no value in an ES2 frame to warrant removal, and if they did they would replace with a fictitious one.

Good Luck

Jon

It’s in the title; Featherbed.  The frame number is on the left swing arm gusset plate.   Jon

As Jon says, also check on the top of the top loop at the back of the steering head. (Very small and for security reasons...Not a lot of people know this)

F/bed ES2 from 1959 - 1963.  First couple of years wideline, you do not say which? Not that it matters.

I would carefully (Not rub down) remove the paint from the L/H gusset plate and even then scribble over with pencil and thin paper. Some frames were given a weak strike. I had such a frame on a 1960 (Actually 59) slimline.

Good luck.

Good advice on removing the paint over the vin number. The vin number on my 1961 ES2 which is on the L/H frame gusset is not stamped very deep.

I have a very early slimline 88 frame, now a Dommie 88 cafe racer.

The number had never been messed about with but the stamping so weak, even down to bare metal that I had to have the actual numbers engraved after powder coating.The original stamping far too weak to photograph. A tracing showed up most of it but it took a strong magnifying glass to see it all. 

I mistook a six for example for a 0.  I suppose an original size set of stamps would have looked more original and authentic but I just wanted the original numbers easy to record.

This was the only time I personally came across a weak stamp, they are out there.