I am trying to work out how to identify an original HT 307 Ute. Can anyone tell me the correct I’d numbers and is it possible to tell if the motor is original. The Ute in question was built in Adelaide in 1969 , is pale green with darker green trim, any help would be much appreciated

If it is late ‘69 it could also be 308 auto or manual, but more than likely a 253 manual or 307 auto as Warren says. There were some 253 auto HT built right at the start of HT but I don’t think there were any utes, just a few pilot sedans and wagons.

The ute’s ID tags and chassis will give up when it was made, but you won’t be able to figure it out yourself.

Edited by user Friday, 13 March 2020 12:49:19 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I just counted 13 x 253 auto HT built during the pilot phase and all sedan and wagon spread across all assembly plants.

What is it's numbers? It sounds like an auto by what you have so could be either a 307 auto or 253 auto depending upon when it was built. Outside possibility of being 308 auto. It also will have originally been column shift if it was an auto, there was no console shift in any commercials until Sandman in 1974. It could be a floor shift 4spd manual originally but no console. I’d still be banking on a 253 manual that has been converted using bits from a HK or HT V8 auto passenger car. Or it was a 307 auto column shift that has been converted, but you should be able to tell if the shifter mount is original or not, if it is it’ll be an original 253 4spd or a rare possibility of 308 4spd.

Does it still have LSD stickers?

Edited by user Friday, 13 March 2020 1:25:36 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

No I can’t, not without the car’s tag details. There are too many variables to guess anything meaningful other than the engine number will start with 307. It can’t be original console shift though, unless it is something really special.

You could get bucket seats OK but order forms are very clear that auto is column only and 4spd is floor shift. Console and buckets were mandatory with 4spd on Premier and Kingswood sedan and wagon but no console shift on commercials, or even Belmont sedan/wagon. HQ SS was the first Belmont to get console shift. Sandman was the first commercial. Other than special internal cars of course.

I bet it wasn’t console shift though! The only console shift HK-HG commercial I have ever heard of was the Torrid Violet HT ute that was done for a GMH show ute. It was a 308 though, can’t remember if it was auto or manual. It had full GTS front sheet metal and quad headlight front which was typical of Leo Pruneau. Knowing Leo’s taste for top spec driveline I bet it was an auto. I’d also bet that any changes away from standard spec were done offline.

If it is a ‘69 Tony it won’t have a compliance plate, only VIN and BODY plates. Although most of the plants built their own ute bodies, having an Elizabeth BODY plate and chassis number (and for 1970 HT a compliance plate (ADR plate)) doesn’t mean it will have an Elizabeth VIN plate and Elizabeth engine. For example it could have been assembled in WA or even Victoria.

For North American engines yes. The problem is most people think a HK-HG’s assembly location is given by the letter in the chassis number after the numerals, or by the body plate. The VIN plate is the only plate actually attached in the assembly plant.