Stolen Vehicle Identity

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Tonks4x4

Active Member
Posts
234
Location
Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire
I need LandyZone members help!

I purchased a rare Defender 110 6x6 V8 last year with a view to strip and completely rebuild as a overland vehicle.

However part way through stripping it and while I was searching the history all is not well with its ID.

I contacted Aiden Fisher who wrote the book on HCB Angus fire appliances as it is quite obvious that this was a fire appliance.

With the build tags that are still fixed to the body from both HCB Angus and Reynolds Broughton it has been identified as 1 of 2 vehicles built in 1987/1988

However after sending off the V888 form to the DVLA to get all the past info on the registration that it currently shows that the ID that's on it now left Land Rover as a diesel 90

During its time on this ID various owners have changed vehicle details to make it more in line with what it is.

But from Aiden Fisher I have the registration numbers of the 2 sister vehicles that was built on this particular contract number.

F339VFX - Still registered as a Fire Appliance

F338VFX - now registered as a flat lorry??????

F338VFX is the registration that should be on my vehicle!!!!!!

The avenues I have tried include DVLA, Land Rover Heritage. I have also made enquires with the police but not made any headway.

The chassis number on my chassis has been tampered with and have not been able to see the original number with hydrochloric acid :(

It is 100% original axles, original gearbox, original transfer box, original chassis. Not the original engine! The date mark on the chassis is correct, the date marks on the glass relate to the correct year.

I even have all the original build photos from when it left HCB Angus and these very distinguishing parts can be seen on my vehicle.

I don't know who to turn to or who can help and what to do next????

I don't want a Q plate or risk having any problems once it is rebuilt as I will have spent £££££££££

Any help much appreciated!
 
apply to dvla for the log book for registration No F338VFX and see what they say, if the number is registered to some one dvla will write to them if not they will send you a duplicate. Try the number on a few insurance sites to see what it comes up with, there is a site but i cant remember what it is that will tell you if its insured, taxed etc.
Alternativley you need to be friendly or know some one who is with some one in the old bill, they could do a pnc on the number and find who the registered keeper is.
Good look chap i hope you get it sorted
 
0B723704-01BF-49D2-B7C3-AA846DED0A20-36137-00003F32B8A83961.jpg


I have already rebuilt the axles and converted them to disk...

CDFA8742-7749-46D1-A7E3-CB55B15FAD72-3390-0000016C6FC5AEC3.jpg
 
The website you need is

askMID

F338VFX shows as a fully insured LANDROVER DEFENDER

Looks quite a unique machine you've got there. Good luck with it.
What reg is your on now then?
Al a bit confusing...!
 
Last edited:
The current reg is D181JHW and is on the logbook as
Land Rover 130 Defender V8
Tri-Axle Rigid Body

If all else fails you could go down the bastard route n just buy a chassis plate from a 88" or a 109 and claim thats what it is ;) lolol ! Looks very cool! Keep pics coming of your rebuild ! Good luck mate
 
Sounds like it could have been reregistered after a few years off road. Was probably hidden in a barn 10years

Wouldn't be given a reg two years earlier than the original though, unless thay guessed the date from build date.
 
whats wrong with keeping it on the registration it is on now? dvla have accepted it as that. I assume the chassis number relates to the registration number and log book,
 
Yes the number shown on the chassis is the one on logbook I have. It's for several reasons.

1. I know it's wrong and want it sorting.
2. The provenience of where it has come from.
3. I have been in this position before rebuilding a 90, and after £10k rebuild it then ended up on a Q plate.
 
What makes you certain it was the fire engine?
It must have had a lot of work done to make it what it is now.
Try contacting the previous owners.
Perhaps the original fire engine was converted into a truck and the body sold on and fitted to a different vehicle.
 
These were some of the many clues.

AC02421C-B112-4393-9D4E-2B6829875243-36137-00003F3862A6175F.jpg


53498ACB-41CC-4799-B1A7-87C6ADE291FF-36137-00003F386C00EA83.jpg


DFCEBB88-7254-4AFC-917C-4A335E7E9F0C-36137-00003F386FF5F89F.jpg


The vehicle has never been to pieces before I got hold of it. The Ash wooden frame of the body was still mounted to the chassis and has never been touched.
 
Here is a few more photos.
Original build image on the left
My vehicle on the right

The 2nd row floor, with distinctive chequer plate.
6a7e6ypa.jpg



The build plaques
u2yryhej.jpg


The dash switches
nazy9u4e.jpg


Fuel filler neck
ege8a8y2.jpg


The Hydrant on the rear
eherave8.jpg


The ladder rack
uju4urud.jpg


The fire pump mounting system
y2ypa7e7.jpg
 
seems an awful lot of work for some one to ring it , i would not be surprised a previous owner sold the reg so you was issued a "pool plate " , are the "coach builders" still in business ? , or have you been down that route for all the build info that they hold i.e chassis numbers etc
 
Are the red one and the green one the same?

Look different to me.

Gra.
 

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seems an awful lot of work for some one to ring it , i would not be surprised a previous owner sold the reg so you was issued a "pool plate " , are the "coach builders" still in business ? , or have you been down that route for all the build info that they hold i.e chassis numbers etc

Yes, both of the coach builders ceased treading some time ago.

The police have now launched a full investigation into the vehicle as I have collated so much evidence so I will keep you posted.
 
Could it be possible the the chassis of the original vehicle rusted out or broke or similar and another one was sourced on this D plate? Effectively, the whole original caboodle plonked on another chassis? I know these must be relatively rare chassis but I assume the are a fe others around??
 
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