Frame & Engine Numbers

Most model C's were purchased by the Danish army, police, and post office. It is worth noting that such was their concept of maintenance of the model C - ie: engine swap for practically any reason connected with repair or maintenance - that it is very rare to find matching engine and frame numbers today. Something else to be aware of: Denmark was occupied by the Nazis during 1939 to 1944, and complete motorcycles were requisitioned for their war effort. It is said that Nimbus did not officially make motorcycles during this period. However, it is also claimed that a few were assembled clandestinely from secretly stored parts. Machines made during this period are regarded as particularly rare and collectable.

Engine number is stamped on the LHS of the engine in an area below the line of the carb. In very rare instances some engines have no number stamped - probably because the crankcase was replaced for some reason, and the workshop didn't have a set of stamps.

Engine number

Frame number can be in one of three places depending on year. Early models up to 1939 have the number and maker stamped to a circular ID plate fixed to the handlebars - some early models also have the number and maker engraved on the plate behind the fuel tank close to the seat (the hand-change gate plate). Later models have the number stamped to an oblong plate fixed to the LHS of the machine. Due to the removability of the ID plate, it is easy to 'forge' the age and provenance of a machine - so beware of this. Avoid dating Nimbus motorcycles on frame numbers alone. One tip to verify older frames is to feel for the gate-change cut-out/mechanism under the cover plate between the front seat and the fuel tank. Also, Nimbus frames were not welded. A weld means a repair.

Frame plate position until 1939

Frame plate position after 1939