My Landy has a questionable past - what do I do?

We've just bought a Landy Defender 110 via ebay - did all the online checks, which came back as being fine. However, now we've had it checked out by a Landy specialist, he has found that the chassis number has been removed, and does not look like it is as old as it should be. This obviously points to a shady past for the car (a real shame because we love it), but what does that mean to us? Is there a method of legitimizing the car? If the number is missing and the registration check works, what can be done to track it? The car is in good condition, and despite a few hundred pounds in work, it would last us for ever, but I don't want to endorse what looks like illegal behaviour!
Any advice to a new but keen Landy owner much appreciated!

:doh: it means dont post on public forums if ya think uve bort a dodgey mota cos everyone ull know

most likely just had a new chassis off another vehicle. don't worry about it. most likely all above board

I can see where you are coming from but also it could just be it's had the chassis replaced, if you say it's in mint condtion then it's probably had a chassis change and other bits and pieces. When you say the no. has been removed how? Maybe it's a replacement and it therefore it wouldn't have a no.

If it was a chassis from a stolen LR there is not almost NO way to trace which one of MANY it is, you would end up with the police taking it and you would be landyless. What sort of history does the eBay seller give with it, did he say it had had work on it? Can he provide reciepts for anything?

If I ever sold my 90 (you would probably need to point a gun at my head though) I could prove with reciepts and so on where all the bits came from.

Does the body work look to be original colours? Does the reg doc and the colour and engine no. etc match up?

Most likely to have had a replacement chassis. Where from could be anyones guess.
You bought it in good faith so just keep quiet and enjoy it.

There are other chassis numbers that the police(vehicle examination team) can look at to establish the original identity of the vehicle. I am told the are some hat are easier to find, and some within the chassis.

I am also informed that there are corresponding numbers on axles, gerboxes. None of these would marry up with other numbers but would be used in conjunction with LR records. and even if removed they can be read.

There are also the age related differences which can be used to paint the picture. and clued up bobbies can stop you on these grounds if they know what they are looking at.

If you bought it in good faith then you will be clear of blame. But that no consolation when its been taken off you.

I sought advice from a vehicle examiner before buying mine, when asked how do i make sure i don't buy a ringer he said don't buy a Land Rover.

The fact is they are **** easy to pinch and ring and in my search for mine i saw mostly dodgy ones.

I am aware of an op whereby all defenders in a given area will be stopped on a given day, any with any doubts will be taken in for further examination.

I still couldn't advise you on what to do, I don't know myself whether i would bury my head in the sand and hope for the best or sell on. If you sell on tho keep all docs from your purchase via ebay.

Got these and many more for info if anyone interested.
Not got the latest stuff but lots of stuff on lots of motors upto 1998.
Its what the Plod use to find out where the numbers are.

Shifty1962 said:

Got these and many more for info if anyone interested.
Not got the latest stuff but lots of stuff on lots of motors upto 1998.
Its what the Plod use to find out where the numbers are.

Click to expand...

8 for engine number is TD5
the 10th digit for year go xy123456789 for the years 1999 onwards