I think its a "ringer"

AL1975 said:

Could i ask what would everyone else do in this situation ? The guy has also left me with a suspected head gasket issue as well so got to spend on it

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At the moment you couldn't talk to the dvla even if you wanted to they're still not working.
Tbh I wouldn't be in a hurry to confess anything to anybody........give us a pic of the dumb iron, as much as possible. You can blank out the chassis number but would be interesting to see if its either been re-stamped, re-welded, or generally had bits chopped off or welded on.

AL1975 said:

Could i ask what would everyone else do in this situation ? The guy has also left me with a suspected head gasket issue as well so got to spend on it

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Morally you should tell the DVLA/Police but risk losing everything.

I would probably drive round in it, safe in the knowledge you bought it in good faith after carrying out all the checks you could have reasonably done.

Further to my earlier 3 suggestions you could set fire to it and claim on the insurance or ask to swap your VW back?

Dash/steering wheel is 91.

Also pics of the chassis generally would be useful. i.e has the rear crossmember been replaced?
I had a couple of 1991 tdi's and they both had chassis repairs and/or replacement outriggers.

tottot said:

Dash/steering wheel is 91.

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The speedo/Odo is a Td5 item, the Odo is LCD.

tottot said:

Dash/steering wheel is 91.

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The odo is digital though so later.
Edit.....Lol too late

wireman said:

Morally you should tell the DVLA/Police but risk losing everything.

I would probably drive round in it, safe in the knowledge you bought it in good faith after carrying out all the checks you could have reasonably done.

Further to my earlier 3 suggestions you could set fire to it and claim on the insurance or ask to swap your VW back?

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Did think about asking for the bug back but he had been looking for a lowered 66 for a while and legally would he have to swap it back? could set fire to but id prob get catch knowing my luck!!!

AL1975 said:

View attachment 210499

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That chassis number looks professionally done to me.
To other forum users:
How does that compare to other Tdi or Td5 chassis numbers (style/font etc)

AL1975 said:

Did think about asking for the bug back but he had been looking for a lowered 66 for a while and legally would he have to swap it back? could set fire to but id prob get catch knowing my luck!!!

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Legally, probably not but you could ask, what have you got to lose? Just say you don't like the Defender, too noisy, slow, thirsty etc etc.

wireman said:

That chassis number looks professionally done to me.
To other forum users:
How does that compare to other Tdi or Td5 chassis numbers (style/font etc)

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Just googled that and there seems to be a great variety, some obviously faked but still several fonts.

On that photo there is a dark shadow over the number I would give it a good clean and look for grinder marks.

tottot said:

Dash/steering wheel is 91.

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On second look as others say td5 odo.

AL1975 said:

The only thing that looks like a date on the glass is the windscreen and it says 1993

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The windscreen might have been taken out/replaced so they could remove the 'tinfoil' chassis plate fixed to the dashboard on Td5 models.

AL1975 said:

Did think about asking for the bug back but he had been looking for a lowered 66 for a while and legally would he have to swap it back? could set fire to but id prob get catch knowing my luck!!!

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I think he would have to swap it back cos its misrepresented and he probably knew that.

The chassis number looks very good to me, spacing, orientation and strike all look good and even.
It's been off the road so lots of time for 2 vehicles to be merged.
Could the dumb iron be chopped off one and welded to the other? Or would that be obvious?
How far back doors the online MOT history go? Does the mileage look legit?

kermit_rr said:

The chassis number looks very good to me, spacing, orientation and strike all look good and even.
It's been off the road so lots of time for 2 vehicles to be merged.
Could the dumb iron be chopped off one and welded to the other? Or would that be obvious?
How far back doors the online MOT history go? Does the mileage look legit?

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If the dumb iron has been chopped off the Tdi then welded onto the Td5 chassis it would have to have been done a distance away from the chassis number as I can't see any obvious repair weld on the photo.

It's fine, just drive it and enjoy it.
They are just bolt together vehicles that sometimes have older and newer parts bolted in place of old broken or damaged parts.
Its registered and good to go.
My 86 90 has very little 86 90 left in it.
I just drive it.

wireman said:

If the dumb iron has been chopped off the Tdi then welded onto the Td5 chassis it would have to have been done a distance away from the chassis number as I can't see any obvious repair weld on the photo.

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thats what i was asking, is it a feasible job to cut off flush then butt up to the new chassis and weld on? or would it not be strong enough? would it stand out like a sore thumb?

kermit_rr said:

thats what i was asking, is it a feasible job to cut off flush then butt up to the new chassis and weld on? or would it not be strong enough? would it stand out like a sore thumb?

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So it could be original chassis thats had new rear crossmember ?

kermit_rr said:

thats what i was asking, is it a feasible job to cut off flush then butt up to the new chassis and weld on? or would it not be strong enough? would it stand out like a sore thumb?

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Very feasible I would say. Done in the 'right' place it wouldn't stand out at all to a 'newbie' or if you weren't 'looking' for it.