www.Defender50th.co.uk

[Cranemaker]

Is it possible to confirm the GB number by reference to the VIN number on the V5?
Or is it possible to 'move' a GB plate to another vehicle for whatever reason, or even 'make' a copy of the cast plate, etc?
Like - can you tell if a vehicle is a genuine Solihull 50th, or a clone?

[romanrob]

Well somewhere LR must have a list of chassis numbers and GB numbers, we have a register, but not VIN specific. Some GB plates have been removed from stolen/ broken/ crashed vehicles over the years, and can also be copied, so the rear plate is not definitive. If you're really trying to see if one is genuine or not it is the more subtle parts of the build that will give it away. But if it's an Atlantis Blue 4.0L V8 with an auto box/ centre console (with lock) and a/c with correct steering wheel and s/s side steps, plus rear step ( which isn't quite the same as the after-market NAS spec) and the Safety Devices roll cage with black rubber protectors, then it's either genuine, or someone has gone to ridiculous effort and expense to replicate the vehicle and would probably have had to have a 50th donor vehicle to do it.
If you have pics then the guys on here are usually pretty good at exposing charlatans
_________________
Rob

GB065 - since 2002
RR10 - 50th Range Rover since 2018
Nanocom unlocked for GEMS
Toylander S2A

Formerly a 200TDi CSW, and a Marine blue SIII 2.25 Petrol

[minibograt]

Following the theft and obvious 'export' of my 2017 to sunnier climate , 10,000 mile Land Cruiser on cloned plates, I enquired of Toyota GB :
If the wagon just happened to come to a Toyota dealer for a cash sale part, would the VIN No be recorded at point of sale, without the driver/thief knowing ?
Yes it would, whenever possible, but obviously not if the car isn't present
Would it then scream stolen car ?
No it wouldn't
Toyota saw the angle, and are now looking to update their dealer network IT systems to do just that ...
How cool is that ?
Wouldn't it be a great step forward if every car maker followed suit ?
Paid out out Total Loss, spent the money replacing the motor with a Defender 2.2 XS
_________________
Peter

Range Rover SDV8 4.4 Autobiography
Def 110 TDCi Puma HiCap Pickup (2009 8.5k miles)
Chevy S.10 4.3 V6 Pickup
Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara
VW Scirocco GT TSi 210

[minibograt]

..
_________________
Peter

Range Rover SDV8 4.4 Autobiography
Def 110 TDCi Puma HiCap Pickup (2009 8.5k miles)
Chevy S.10 4.3 V6 Pickup
Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara
VW Scirocco GT TSi 210

[V8GPC]

the 50th V8 Engine number has a specific reference letter that identifies it as a the 50th. (not just a range rover version) Additionally the chassis number also identifies auto petrol etc.

So any LR that has been modified will not have these unique identifiers.

[V8GPC]

https://rimmerbros.com/content--name-Rover-V8-Engine-Numbers

31G Land Rover Defender 50LE efi auto.

The front timing cover is distinctive too as the distributor hole is there but not machined out. Similar Discovery 3.9 are close but have dizzy and no cam sensor drilled out.

https://www.firstfour.co.uk/land-rover-vin

VIN eg S A L LD V B M 3 W A 15xxxx (no spaces)

S = Geographical Region = Europe
A = Country = United Kingdom
L = Manufacturer = Land Rover
LD = Model Type = Defender
V = Wheel Base = 90" (L/R)
B = Body Style = Defender 3door Station Wagon
M = Engine Type = 3.9 & 4.0L EFI Petrol
3 = Gearbox Type = ZF 4 Speed Auto Right Hand Drive
W = Year of Build = 1998
A = Build Type = Solihull, UK

as the only Defender 3dr Station wagon RHD 4.0 EFI Auto Defender built in 1998 is the 50th then a genuine chassis number plus engine number makes it less worrying if all numbers look right.

[romanrob]

Minibograt - great idea. At first I thought that thieves would eventually not give up their chassis number to the dealer, but unless the thieves are planning to drive what they stole, then whoever they sold it to will at some point replace parts and so the technique would have a pretty good hit rate. The downside being that a 10000 mile Toyota doing 10k a year won't need parts for another 10 years+ ) - would work well for Land Rovers though
_________________
Rob

GB065 - since 2002
RR10 - 50th Range Rover since 2018
Nanocom unlocked for GEMS
Toylander S2A

Formerly a 200TDi CSW, and a Marine blue SIII 2.25 Petrol

[romanrob]

good thinking v8 gpc
_________________
Rob

GB065 - since 2002
RR10 - 50th Range Rover since 2018
Nanocom unlocked for GEMS
Toylander S2A

Formerly a 200TDi CSW, and a Marine blue SIII 2.25 Petrol

[Brucech]

Having bought a advertised Japanese 50th, no 396, from a UK dealer I later applied for a British Motor Heritage certificate which showed that it was manufactured in 1998 in white with a 3.9ltr V8 petrol engine & shipped to a dealer in Japan. However it did state that it had a manual gearbox - I assumed that this was just an error in their records.

Now have looked at the VIN breakdown my VIN has a 7, not a 3, indicating a manual box.

My Defender is to all intents & purposes a 50th Anniversary model in white with black wheels arches, boost alloys, aircon, safety cage, modified bulkhead, badges & cubby box. A Japanese 50th Anniversary handbook was included along with some service sheets but as these are all in Japanese these are interesting but mainly meaningless.

Only non-standard items are replacement radio & small clock added between rear wiper & cigarette lighter.

31G is mentioned on the service sheets which could apply to the engine.

Is it possible the VIN details are incorrect or is it possible the auto box & other mods were added?

Seems a lot of work. I would welcome any thoughts.
_________________
B Chisholm

[NAS90]

The VIN decoders and even the Heritage people aren't always as reliable at giving the correct specification as would be desirable, but essentially if your chassis number starts SALLDVBM7WA1..... then it is a 50th.

I couldn't say for certain, but as far as i'm aware in 1998/99 the only Defenders sold through the dealer network in Japan were 50ths, known there as the LD31 (as opposed to the NAS spec Defenders that are known in Japan as LD30), pretty sure the TD5s weren't offered in the Japanese market during those years.

[Brucech]

Many thanks for that info - my VIN is as you described - possibly the 31 I see on the Japanese service records refer to the model number not the engine.

Thanks again Bruce
_________________
B Chisholm

[minibograt]

Theft of Land Cruiser all sorted and paid out by Insurers
I put it's personal plate into retention and cashed in vehicle tax
Bought a 2015 Defender 90XS, 15k miles, nice & loaded

Don't ask why I need 3 Defenders ...

DVLA have stated that the personal plate cannot be assigned to the
Defender until 6 months after date of theft of the Toyota

Can't have the possibility of 2 cars with the same plate running around confusing ANPR cameras

More chance of getting lucky with The Pope on a Saturday night
via Tinder date than that happening
_________________
Peter

Range Rover SDV8 4.4 Autobiography
Def 110 TDCi Puma HiCap Pickup (2009 8.5k miles)
Chevy S.10 4.3 V6 Pickup
Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Sahara
VW Scirocco GT TSi 210

[Cranemaker]

I only started this thread to try to see if what I was buying was in fact genuine.
And it is, so many thanks to all who replied with such 'insider' knowledge.

[tyke57nz]

All of the ex Japanese Market 50ths that I know of all have the gearbox stated wrongly on the VIN, 7 rather than 3, and consequently on the FOS chassis rail.