1994 Defender 200 TDI - Q Plate.

Just a thought but a lot of work. But if you really want off the “Q” plate.

If you “de register?” (Not sure you would need todo this)Then go through the IVA process for age related plate. I don’t expect this to be an easy process and a lot of work.

But check the requirement for age related plate.
Get as many numbers that will tie it to a year as you can, and I mean as many as you can, even main electrical items. Fill a folder for proof,they require a couple of key elements to be dated but this maybe possible, or even a date range. I.E Axles, Suspension, drivetrain.
Chassis is your biggest problem as am sure you know.

But if you can find a sympathetic tester it might fly.

Might be worth a bit of investigation, but won’t be an easy journey.

Good luck

If the VIN can be found (in any of the usual hiding places) then @yessi might be able to help with build info?
Not sure of course but he has access to JLR records and got all my build info for my Range Rover for me.

At the risk of stating the obvious and annoying the OP.
https://www.vinnumberlocation.com/landrover-defender.html

RV6A said:

I’ve crawled all over it and it looks like the old SAL VIN has been obliterated by burning/welding it out.

It’s also not a rebuild it all original with a steel chassis

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From that, it sounds like the number has been deliberately removed, rather than just damaged during the course of a repair.

Is that what you are saying?

If so, im wondering what legitimate reason there could possibly be for removing the id from a vehicle?


If it bothers you a whole load, flog it, and buy a truck with a proper id? I mean, im guessing you knew it was a q when you purchased it, and paid accordingly?

I've had it quite a while now and the Q didn't really bother me. (Appropriate price paid from a reputable seller). It's type approved and genuine.

From research, I personally think it was a mess up or bad advise when first registering it in 2001. No idea why they obliterated the original SAL VIN.

But as its now 25 years old, low mileage and in excellent condition, I'd like to keep it to hand on down the line and also take it to some of the classic meetings.

Because of that I'd also like to have it as original as possible and that includes having the correct age related plate from 1994.

I'm just wondering if there is anywhere else that the original VIN could have been secreted?

I would imagine the original vin would be removed when new vin was allocated otherwise there would be major confusion and eyebrows raised at mot time when inspection reveals vehicle plate doesn't match chassis number...just a thought.

Shippers said:

when new vin was allocated

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Why would a new VIN be allocated?

Cheers

I'm not sure why you want an age related plate, and it doesn't sound like you are either ..... If you are keeping the vehicle, then why bother ?

You might get somewhere with DVLA if you got your MP involved w.r.t. the missing paperwork from the closed office .... maybe.

IIRC, Q plate vehicles are exempt from emissions testing during the MOT, so .... might not be such a bad thing in the long term when they try to tighten said testing more....

( Though, on anything pre 1998 it's going to be quite difficult for them, and would hopefully cause a huge backlash in the classic car community .... but there is a reason why the 40 year rolling exemption from the MOT was introduced - and, IMHO, it has nothing to do with preserving our motoring heritage )

I cant really see why messing up the paperwork would cause a Q reg, unless the chassis number was already obliterated.

Pretty certain on all the old heaps the only two places for the vin are the OSF dumb iron and the plate on the brake servo, hence why they are so easy to ring!
Not sure on the td5 models?

Ref the chassis number I would hazard a guess whatever the reason they had to totally remove the old number for it to be legit.
Have you tried to clean it and maybe apply some acid?

The old VIN has been well and truley obliterated. Acid isn’t going lift it.

I can see why they removed it, so as not to cause confusion with a new VIN number. I just don’t understand why it wasn’t simply brought in from Jersey and registered in a normal way. Unfortunately the chap who brought it in has passed away so pardon th spun. It appears to be a dead end!

Thanks for all the suggestions and I’m still open to others if I can find its history.

RV6A said:

I can see why they removed it, so as not to cause confusion with a new VIN number.

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Why did it need a new VIN?

Cheers

Nelly,
No idea. It is most definitely a 200TDI from circa 1994. Built new and sent to the Channel Islands.
It was then imported from Jersey in 2001, when it was first registered with DVLA on the mainland as age unknown. It then had a check at DVLA Worcester (Office now shut) and given a new VIN starting SAB.

If it was 2001 it would be a TD5, so it’s all very confusing and mysterious.

RV6A said:

new VIN starting SAB.

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SAB, is not even a LR VIN code is it?

Cheers

Does it say what year of manufacture the LR is on the log book?

neilly said:

Why did it need a new VIN?

Cheers

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To avoid paying VAT maybe??...

The LR VIN should start SAL. SABT is a DVLA issue one, following its examination at DVLA Worcester in 2001.

On the V5 it says date of manufacture unknown. First registered October 2001. Also a note saying Imported Vehicle.

No VAT, never thought of that as a reason, but a very plausible one.

Me and a mate have a Jersey plate Fiat Barchetta here in Portugal can't reg it unless VAT is paid on it at the original purchase price were told...Portugal doesn't do Q plate or entertain any reg swop etc..so it's basicly scrap here and will be used for swooping good bits to his other portugese reg one till we work out what to do with it...
So in your case original importer imo got round paying the vat due by accepting a Q plate and payed vat on the value on date of import not on build supply and export date...

I’d never considered that, however, it does make a lot of sense.

Save a shed load of cash on VAT/duty and not be bothered about the Q plate.

A nice tidy Defender that had done very little mileage on Jersey for 7 or 8 years....

Following thoughts on ^^^^^ post if you do prove original vehicle details you might be asked to pay VAT to age reg if I'm correct in my thinking...