Chassis and engine numbers don't match

[kevjimbryant]

I looked at a car today and the numbers on the v5 didn't match the numbers on the silver plate by the battery. Should they?
What should i do now i know they don't match?
Thanks in advance
Kev

[mgcjag]

Well there you go..at least you checked....what numbers didn't match the V5....if its the chassis number that's serious....if its the engine number then you need to know what the engine is from but it needs to be notified to DVLA which could cause its own problems...Steve ps do the numbers match what's on xke data and is there a Heritage certificate

[mgcjag]

Note that the chassis number should also be stamped on the front picture frame..just at the top where the front right shock connects

[kevjimbryant]

The v5 says
Engine number 7R39706/9
Chassis J70PIR43890BW

The plate with the oil details by the battery says
Car number 1R40274BW
Engine number 7R35299 - 9
Body number 4R35305
Gearbox number 28988

Sorry i didn't notice the plate didn't have the chassis number, i just saw numbers that didn't match.

Kev

[mgcjag]

Hi Kev.....ist essential that the v5 matches the car/chassis number thats actually stamped on the picture frame as I described above and the actual engine number that's stamped on the engine.....the aluminium data plate should have the same information but these plates are only rivited on and easily removed/altered, replaced etc....either contact the seller to explain or move on....Steve..ps car/chassis number is typically refered to as the same thing.....body number is typically written in crayon on various body panels so difficult to actually find but not really needed

[mgcjag]

Something very odd...I just looked at xke date and 1R 40274bw is a blue 2+2 wirh engine as you quote above....
http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1R40274

[tim wood]

Don’t just walk away - Run !!

[kevjimbryant]

Spoke with the auction house this morning about 9am so before i saw the most recent posts. The engine number on the block matches the V5. He couldn't find the chassis number and the current vender and auction house suspect an earlier restoration removed the number and failed to replace it.

But strange two cars have the same engine number and chassis number. both restored Californian imports the red one from 2002 the blue one from 2010. Hmm

[mgcjag]

2 cars don't have the same engine and chassis numbers
..I expect they were worked on at the same shop and some numpty got the data plates mixed up.....the chassis number is stamped in...its either been ground off, covered up, or a new picture frame fitted..but why......needs more investigation befor I would touch it......Steve

[Philk]

Re the Chassis No recorded on the V5, is it a California import? If so, is there a J70 tag near the silver commission plate (California used to require a new car being registered there to have such a tag representing the year of title and that the car was a Jaguar). I'm wondering if a couple of different numbers have been joined together to somehow form a later length VIN number here.

Separately, I would not get involved with numbering challenges such as this. You are potentially entering a whole world of pain.

[kevjimbryant]

Phil, do you mean just go for the car if you think it's worth it, or walk away, it's going to be a painful journey?

Kev

[tim wood]

My car is a California import. I went to see the car before buying although photos would suffice I suppose.
I made absolutely sure that the chassis, engine and plate numbers all matched. ( checked the gearbox number later at home)
Mine has the J68 prefix to the chassis number which is shown on the title document.


It seems odd that the chassis number has disappeared. As has been mentioned this is stamped on the frame. If it’s not there then either the frame has been changed (why?) or it’s been obscured in some way.

The body number tag may still be present ? Often pop riveted behind the rear number plate. It may be worth seeing if you can get this

Tim

[kevjimbryant]

Tim,
but what, if any, difference does it make?
I can understand if it's a rare car, something special, but this is a run of the mill american import that's been changed by various owners over the years. It's not original and it's not concours. It's just a useable e-type.
kev

[mgcjag]

It's important that the car has a VIN/chassis/car number that's on the V5.....you haven't yet see the number of this car stamped on the chassis/ picture frame where it should be...lets assume you purchase the car....then next week someone comes along with a car that has "your" vin stamped on it......its happened before......you need to be sure of what your buying..Steve

[abowie]

Don’t just walk away - Run !!

Tim's absolutely right. Avoid it like the plague.

The J70 is an addition that they used to make in the US, but that chassis number is for a different car.

The only way I'd entertain buying this car is if the auction house can provide you with a v5 with the correct numbers on it; ie ones that match those on the car.

Cars with both those chassis numbers appear on XKEdata.

http://xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1R43890BW

http://xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=1R40274BW

Is your red or blue?

[kevjimbryant]

Don’t just walk away - Run !!

Tim's absolutely right. Avoid it like the plague?

Is your red or blue?

But why avoid? What difference does it make?

Neither is mine. The red one is the car up for auction.

[Philk]

Don’t just walk away - Run !!

The J70 is an addition that they used to make in the US, but that chassis number is for a different car.

Agreed. I should have made that clearer in my previous comment.

Reading back, it is not clear whether the numbers on the commission plate actually match those on the car (I'm just wondering if the auctioneer showed the wrong V5 alongside the car). Even if the engine has been changed in the past, the body number must match.... ditto the chassis (car) number which, as highlighted by others, can be located on the chassis member adjacent to where the front right-hand shock absorber is mounted.

[mgcjag]

OK let me recap .....there is a Red 2+2 at auction.....it has a V5....the auction house confirms the engine number but cannot see a chassis number stamped.........A data plate is on the car but the plate has all the info of the blue 2+2...so clearly the wrong plate.......all that needs to be confirmed is what the red car chassis number is and get it stamped...this could be achieved with a Heritage certificate and actually finding the body number on the car but needs hunting for...all this should really be done by the current owner as a new owner may run into problems with the DVLA....
Steve

[DWW]

Are you sure it is just that the car had a color change, mine was blue before it was changed to Carmine Red.

[mgcjag]

No Danny...2 seperate cars....see the links to xke data posted above and my summary above....Steve