chassis number problem

I'm re-posting this here 'cos I got no joy on the series section.
I'm re chassising my old S3 and I decided it's about time I have a proper VIN plate made up - my number is stamped on a bit of scrap ally plate pop rivitted to the bulkhead and the number on the chassis is long gone. The problem is my V5 has a chassis number which doesn't make sense. There's supposed to be an 8 digit number and a suffix letter. I've got a 7 digit number plus a suffix letter. The first three numbers make sense for a very early S3 followed by 2 zeroes and a two digit number plus a capital A. Anyone got any ideas?

Is the number on the 'scrap ally plate' the same as on the v5?

Yes, that's where I got the number from. Some years ago an MOT inspector failed the vehicle for not having a VIN or chassis number - never had a plate when I bought the vehicle and my local garage had just replated the chassis leg, so they made up a plate from the number on the v5.

You probably have seen this:

1962 - 1979
An eight digit chassis numbering system with suffix letters

The first, second, and third digits indicate the model and specification.
241-258,260-324 = Series IIA 88" & 109"
325-339 = Series IIB (110 Inch Forward Control)
340-354 = Series IIA 109"
5424 = Series IIA 88 Station Wagon (US Model) 259, 901-950 = Series III
951-955 & 895 = Lightweight
956-965 = 101 Inch Forward Control
355, 356, 358 = Range Rover

The remaining five digits starting with 00001 indicate the serial number.
The suffix letter indicates design modifications.
Note: The year, or model-year of manufacture have no identification number

I take it your first 3 digits are somewhere between 901 and 950 as its a series 3??

If your V5 has a number on it, i'd take it up with the dvla, somewhere along the line someones misread/missed a number at a guess..

It starts 901 as I'd expect for an early S3. If the number DVLA has is wrong I'm not sure where I could find the correct number. Perhaps some forensic work on the front chassis leg - there might be some original metal under the chassis black.
Or I could just ignore the problem and hope it goes away......

Problem is if you try to sell it and someone does a check it'll look dodgey...or another mot man may have not got laid for a while and be an arse..I'd try and see whats on the chassis leg, but i doubt you'll be lucky..

At a guess (and its only that)..i'd say the original 4th number was a zero and its been left off...

I've had the vehicle over 30 years so I'm not likely to be selling it anytime soon! You're probably right about the missing zero which would make it a very early S3 indeed.