COMMENTS ABOUT REGISTRY DETAILS

 First, the VIN is not the same as when the Harrington was born. It means when the Alpine left Rootes before conversion. It took at least two months for the conversion. There are cars which are registered and licensed almost a year after they left Rootes.

It's said that 110 Harrington Alpines were made and 250 Harrington Le Mans. About 20 Harrington Series C have been identified and just 5 Series D on Alpine Series 3 chassis and 4 on Alpine Series IV chassis.

Only one car has been discovered in the past three years (2017) and the search has been going on for more than 30 years.

Among the 110 HAhave only 35 cars been listed, that is just 30% of produced. 121 HLM's are listed, less than 50% made. HC's and HD's have no numbers produced mentioned anywhere. The estimated 20 HC's were produced parallel with HLM's so 20 cars seem to be realistic for a period of six months, same amount of HLM's for same period. The production tempo was slow due to different conflicts, union/economy/strikes and change of board. Or maybe not so many were built as the figures say. Some VIN's are maybe from donor cars if the car is rebodied. There are cars which are Alpines with a Harrington roof and also cars which are carrying the original VIN's on a rebodied car (not legal). The most famous one is this.

 It's a copy of a car (just roof and trunk lid are original) which raced at Sebring in 1962/63 driven by Filippo Theodoli/Freddie Barette. Raced at Goodwood 2014. This car was sold at an RM Sotherby auction in Aug 2016 as an original car for more than £100K. RMwas informed and knew that it wasn't the true car!

The cars not converted by H. Ltd. and are not original and true Harringtons. There were some left over roofs for the HD's stored by an old employee which most likely are now in circulation

Two test cars TPN 400 and UAP 788, were often seen in Motor magazines both coming from Brighton area (Hove). Not listed and history unknown.

There are three really early Harringtons made on Alpine Series I body (PBW 262 (still exists) KRU 245 and USY 266 (still alive). In the beginning of the production it's believed that the cars once were registered as Alpines and purchased by Harrington Ltd from the open market for conversions but the latter part of the production which were made parallel with HLM's were coming to H.Ltd in batches of approx. 5-8 cars delivered by Rootes.

A prototype HLM made some tests at the British Army vehicle proving grounds at Chobham with good results. Car is unknown. Also some demo cars for the press and motor shows, VNJ 654 presented in UK motor press. Others in Geneva and USA.

 One can see in the register groups of cars with VIN's after each other or close to. The single cars might have been privately Alpines brought to H.Ltd for conversion or a dealer wanting a Harrington in the show room or a" Special order" (see Prince car).

Some privately owned Alpines were brought to H.Ltd for conversion have not been registered as Harrington's because of higher tax. Almost all HLM's were sent to Hartwell Ltd in Bournemouth in groups of 4/5 cars to be tuned up to Stage II, same as the Le Mans winning HA. Those cars were driven on the roads without any roof fitted 123 km one way (76 miles)

In spring 1962 the rear vents of the LRX HLM's were fitted by a chrome cover until mid July when the production of LHD cars (LRX and LRO) stopped. After that the production of HC began parallel with the last HLM's, (HRO, RRO) about 20 cars of each until production ended early 1963. These 20 HLM's were not fitted with Hartwell tuned up engines, says a plaque located above the VIN plate in engine bay.

 None of the 20 HC's and approx. 10 HD's engines had any Hartwell tuning. Just as an option.

The production about HD's starts in May 1963 after a "hold up" in production, reason was preparations for a new mold (new window frame).