Tracing RRC build dates

[AndrewJ]

Hello Australia,
I've just bought a Range Rover Classic in the UK, the car having been imported from Australia. It was built in June 1980 but I need to trace the exact build date (day/date/month) if possible to help with UK registration of the car. Can anyone advise me where such information might be held? I've tried the State registration office but they have said they can't help.
Any info that would enable me to trace more of the history of the car would be most gratefully received.
Thanks,
Andy.

[Mercguy]

haha "How hard can it be?!!!?!???!????"

I can't speak specifically for LR, but in the Mercedes world, it works like this.

Each vehicle has a datacard - right back to the early 50's.
On the datacard is an Order number, option codes and a list of SA numbers.
The production date is deciphered from the Order number, the date the vehicle was completed is available, but this is not always available on computerized record, some of it remains on microfiche with the Classic Centre in Stuttgart.

Any of the vehicles built within the last 40 years can have the production date provided straight out of the order number - all that is required is a polite email.
The mercedes WIS/ASRA and EPC also show this information when you look up the VIN and datacard.

A replacement datacard can be ordered, for a nominal fee, but proof of ownership is required, and it must be ordered through official channels - be it an official Mercedes-Benz Club or a dealer.

Mileage badges are also sent to those who apply for them, 250K, 500K, 1M - so long as there is documented proof of ownership and servicing history - these are usually ordered and verified by the official club secretariat.
"badge of honour" some people call them. It's a less-common tradition in modern times, as it's unlikely that you'll see a vehicle even last beyond 15 years, much less in the hands of a single owner who cares for it.


There are websites which can provide you with LR datacard information, in a similar manner - but I am unaware whether or not they can provide the production date from the VIN.

My understanding of the LR datacard situation is that these records are inevitably difficult to obtain unless you know WHO to ask, as well as exactly what to ask...
I got the runaround looking for a production date and datacard for SALLHAMM3JA613937 and decided that I would be satisfied with the build plate stamp of 10/91 as the production date and I attempted to retrieve my options list from the russian vin site, Never mind the fact that everyone I speak to about it calls it a '92 model.

Just more Midland monkey madness if you ask me.

[AndrewJ]

Stay on the medication Joe.

[workingonit]

Take the last 6 VIN (serial number) to LRover?

Try British Motor Museum | Is my Car Tax Exempt (https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/is-my-car-tax-exempt) or British Motor Museum | Heritage Certificates (https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates)

[workingonit]

Double post

[Davo]

Stay on the medication Joe.

Is this supposed to be funny? Because it isn't, considering he bothered to reply to your post.

[AndrewJ]

Davo, no offense meant; just responding to Joe's slightly bonkers reply. Should be room for a smile on any forum.
Andy.

[350RRC]

Stay on the medication Joe.

Gold!!

A funny reply that I wouldn't take seriously. Joe's reply is gold too, in a different sense. He obviously knows his Mercs and is a font of knowledge.

DL

[Mercguy]

Guess I shouldn't have wasted my time...

Nothing to see here, move along.[bigwhistle]

[AndrewJ]

I really didn't mean to offend and thanks for the reply Joe, but I'm asking on here because it isn't easy to find info on the old Rangie I've just bought and your reply just confirms that.
If there are any nuggets of info that could unlock the old archives or throw some light on how to trace some details about the car I would be very thankful to hear of them.
Cheers,
Andy.

[workingonit]

I'm sort of with 350RRC on this one. To be honest, I face planted into my cornflakes bowl about one third through Joe's post - late night, lots of other threads skimmed etc. I also can be accused of long prose at times (the site owner must lament the wasted storage). Now that the thread has become 'serious' I went back and fully read Joe's post and appreciate the points he 'finally' got to.

I took Joe's haha statement to be an observation of the irony of dealing with LRover as compared to other manufacturers...lo and behold Joe's favourite, Mercedes - and not to be a slight on Andy's level of effort to find information. So I can also appreciate the medication comment from Andy. However, recommendation to medication is misdirected, as people with Joe's affliction really should be given a slide rule, calipers, graph paper and pen to keep them on the level.[thumbsupbig]

I think we also have to consider Andy's feelings, as a Pom, continually being reminded of German efficiency; and that he is trying to recover some of his nations heritage from the 'colonies'. [biggrin]

Why do they actually want the day of manufacture? How have other importers dealt with this issue - surely your authorities could guide you?

[Mercguy]

However, recommendation to medication is misdirected, as people with Joe's affliction really should be given a slide rule, calipers, graph paper and pen to keep them on the level.[thumbsupbig]

We've moved on from slide rules [wink11]
I have a plumb bob which keeps me vertical and a machinists bubble level to keep me on the horizontal [biggrin]

When that fails There's a sundial out the back to help me find my axle bearings.

[PLR]

Hello Australia,
I've just bought a Range Rover Classic in the UK, the car having been imported from Australia. It was built in June 1980 but I need to trace the exact build date (day/date/month) if possible to help with UK registration of the car. Can anyone advise me where such information might be held? I've tried the State registration office but they have said they can't help.
Any info that would enable me to trace more of the history of the car would be most gratefully received.
Thanks,
Andy.


G`day , you don`t actually say if it is F or an A in the vin for your 1980 RR and what was the original colour if you know ?

Does it have a JRA , Leyland Australia or what plate ?

Manual or automatic ?

Don`t know about exact date but more information about it may reap more information .

[AndrewJ]

[QUOTE=workingonit;2699874]

I think we also have to consider Andy's feelings, as a Pom, continually being reminded of German efficiency; and that he is trying to recover some of his nations heritage from the 'colonies'.


workingonit,
I would love to be able to challenge your comments, but the first is a fact, my everyday car is German and we're even divorcing our European neighbors these days. Our national dish is apparently now chicken tikka massala and we prefer a BBQ to a Sunday roast.

But our ladies can wield a cricket bat so all is not lost. For the ladies at least..................

As for the car:
The car is white and the VIN is a suffix F, it's an automatic. The date of manufacture on the VIN plate is 06/80 and it has Leyland Corporation of Australia as its manufacturer.

In the UK you need an exact date of manufacture to register the car, day, month and year not just month and year. I asked why and got an 'it's the rules' response, but I stayed calm and thought of all of the other routes by which I might actually find out something useful.
I've contacted British Motoring Heritage but they only do UK born cars, and mine is a child of Australia. The car has SA plates so I've contacted them which is ongoing but hasn't yielded any info so far. I've also contacted UK owners clubs and everyone else I can think of and the advice that comes back is that the archive info, if it exists at all, is probably in Australia. Even if Leyland Australia has been completely obliterated my experience with the classic car movement is that genuine enthusiasts know more than anyone, so I think that's where my chances are. I'm sure there's a Landie or RR nut (there I go again!) out there who knows all........

If I can't get some better history for the car I can register it here, but it would be registered as a car that's had major repairs or restoration, a kit car or constructed from parts. And as it's a very genuine old Rangie I want to avoid that if at all possible.

Andy.

[AndrewJ]

And whilst I can wield a spanner I can't even add a quote properly on here; so I'm actually a cave pom where IT is concerned!!!!!![bigrolf]

[Mercguy]

I guess the last straw would be to get in touch with the ex-BMC Leyland employess association

BMC-Leyland Australia Heritage Group (http://www.bmclaheritage.org.au)

That would be the last-gasp which might yield you some further avenues to pursue.
Give them your VIN in your email to them, they might be able to help - who knows.

[PLR]

As for the car:
The car is white and the VIN is a suffix F, it's an automatic. The date of manufacture on the VIN plate is 06/80 and it has Leyland Corporation of Australia as its manufacturer.

Andy.

So is it actually a 1978 or 9 Y/M and wears a 9 digit chassis number ?

If so what is the prefix ?

[350RRC]

And whilst I can wield a spanner I can't even add a quote properly on here; so I'm actually a cave pom where IT is concerned!!!!!![bigrolf]

Hi Andrew,

Have a look at the CKD section:

Range Rover CKD production in Australia (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/classic-range-rover/108545-range-rover-ckd-production-australia.html)

You might get more of an understanding of the VIN.

In my case I have an 81 2 door body replacing the rusted 2 door body on a 74 chassis. When it was all stripped down the 81 body had quite a few 'production notes' scattered around it, on loose labels and pieces of paper, etc.

None would have given a final production date.

How would the date of first registration go?

DL

[AndrewJ]

It is a 9 digit VIN and chassis number starting with 357 so an Australian CKD car and ending in F.

[PLR]

It is a 9 digit VIN and chassis number starting with 357 so an Australian CKD car and ending in F.


Pre september 79 is 357 plus 6 chassis

Post oct 79 is LHABV1AF plus 6 Vin

No proof of above months only read .

Leyland Australia 10/81 service bull 29/05/81 add SAL to give 17 digit Vin as now .

In the bulletins Your 357 white original was Blue-White Dulux 566-31490 acrylic 7/81 bulletin 20/05/81

I only have a couple of service bulletins for Range Rover and only 1981.

The suggestion of the heritage group would be worth a try , the group mention the rarity of Leyland Australia bulletins but a dated bulletin may help in your quest .

I`d also suggest asking your question in general chat here , there are many that read there , maybe not post .

I`d suggest though that you form your question so the information doesn`t need to be pried out .


I just had a read in General Chat and my suggestion about going there is very wrong but i think Tech Chat may be ok .