Restoring a barn find and registering it - possible?

So basically my neighbour has a 1991 200tdi In his barn- Ive pinched bits over the years to keep my 1992 Tdi on the road, were both farmers - he's retiring and said I can have it for Helping clear the sheds out before handing back to the landlord.

It hasn't run since 2001 apparently when It stripped its gear splines towing a heavy trailer in a field (steep hill), rolled back flipping the trailer and ripped the tow bar off, along with lots of other small bits of damage.
The chassis is rusted and its broken its back, half the ID is visible, The gearbox is in my truck, engine is on a pallet somewhere under some very manky straw but should be ok as I sheeted it 8 years back when it came out. Otherwise the body shell and everything is their, caked in 20 years of bird plop and straw / hay and dust.

The lad is in his 80's and hasnt had any luck finding the paperwork for it but does have some old photos of it with him in it, we've only got the first 3 digits of the reg No though.

Is it possible to re register this with the DVLA at all? Ideally on a H or J reg plate ? Ive got lots of parts for my J reg 200tdi and would love to rebuild one to a decent spec, while keeping my J as my field worker it is now.

Is the VIN plate present under the bonnet, on the top of the pedal box?

Rougharse Racing said:

Is the VIN plate present under the bonnet, on the top of the pedal box?

Click to expand...

Dont think so, as most of the insides came out when I took the engine and gearbox out in 2014.

Ideally you need to find the brake pedal / servo and the VIN plate.
Which half of the VIN number is visible?

Its got SALLAVLD67 then what looks like a I or a H but then the huge rust hole starts and at the other edge what looks like a line so assume the bottom of a 2, and a 7.

The end bit is literally the remains of a number in rust If you poke it it will fall away, the dumb iron is almost totally rotted out, the other dumb iron has disintegrated to a stub.

Unfortunately the last 7 digits are the important bit, but you probably know that.
Try cleaning the number up with sand paper and photographing it with your phone. You may be able to see more if you zoom in.

Rougharse Racing said:

Unfortunately the last 7 digits are the important bit, but you probably know that.
Try cleaning the number up with sand paper and photographing it with your phone. You may be able to see more if you zoom in.

Click to expand...

That was my gut feeling............. I think the origional reg may be gone forever,
however re registering would dvla Q plate it? Or H plate it - we know it was H**

Is your pal not the current registered keeper of this do-er upper ? Or does he know who is ? .....

I would have thought that the engine and gearbox numbers should enable someone like gaydon heritage to locate the rest of the ID..

Disco1BFG said:

Is your pal not the current registered keeper of this do-er upper ? Or does he know who is ? .....

I would have thought that the engine and gearbox numbers should enable someone like gaydon heritage to locate the rest of the ID..

Click to expand...

Yes he brought it new in 91, but hasnt driven it since 2001 or 2, Hes in his 80's and his farm records were kept in carrier bags in his loft, which was damp. Its been an eye opener trying to separate a bag of damp 1990's and early 2000s £10 notes!

He should be the registered keeper - but we dont have the documents (yet obviously i they turn up then happy days) to ID the vehicle. The reg plate we thought came from it turned out to be for his Case Tractor which was fun when I contacted the DVLA - that case has been driving on the wrong plates since 95...........

Did a search for the Gaydon lot - AKA "British Motor Museum" they have the records of all LR's from 1948 to date according to this link:-

https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates

Brilliant ill get in touch - hopefully something will tie it all down, its got origional axles, transfer and the gearbox are in my truck but easy enough to sort that.