VIN NUMBERS EXPLAINED
Sat 19th May 2012
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VIN NUMBERS EXPLAINED

All Metros have VIN type numbers with eleven letter prefix and six numbers following.
Prior to approximately February 1981,the SAX prefix, the world marque identifier, could be missing.

The fourth and fifth letters following SAX are:
XB for all models 1980 - 1984.
XF for all models 1985 - 1990.
XP all Rover models 1990 onward.

The 10th and 11th letters just before the numbers show:
XB series:
AD are 1981 and 1982
BD is 1983
CD is 1984
XF series:
AD are 1985, 1986 and 1987
BD are 1988, 1989 and 1990
XP series:
AD is 1990 onwards


So does Custard's VIN Plate match the car ? :

DVC00002.JPG


Well the colour is correct - FMP is Primula Yellow and the Trim AMV is Houndstooth.

So what is SAXXBLNB1BD828887 ?


Well we know it is a Mark 1 so refer to the first VIN decoder below:

1980 - 1984
MK1-VIN.gif


SAX = BL Cars later MG-Rover
XB......BD = 1983
The bit in the middle, LNB1=
L = Sub Base City
N = 3 Door Saloon
B = 1000cc
1 = Manual 4 Speed - RHD


So that only leaves the build number which in this case is 828887,
which means Custard was the 28,887 1983 model produced:


XB....BD: 1980-81 went from 100001 to approx 123314. (some 1981 may have the SAX missing ?)
XB....BD: 1981-82 from 300000 to 698721 (494000 at start of 1982)
XB....BD: 1982-1983 went from 800000 to approx 951399. (1983 models)
XB....CD: 1983-1984 went from 010000 to approx 145952. (1984 models)
XF....AD: 1984-85 went from 400001 to approx 606689. (1985 models)
XF....AD: 1985-87 went from 610000 to approx 885570. (1986 and 1987 models)
XF....BD: 1987-90 went from 500000 to approx 943999. (1988, 1989 and 1990 models)
XP....AD: 1990-98 100001 onwards.
XRWNP7AD: 570001 to 570200 are the 6R4.



1985 - 1990
MK2-VIN.gif

To December 1992
to 1992.jpg

December 1992 on
1992 0n.jpg

December 1994 to March 1996
dec94 to mar96.jpg

March 1996 to10565
mar 96 to 110565.jpg

110566 0n
110566 on.jpg

Glass's Guide 1
Glasses Guide 1.jpg

Glass's Guide 2
Glasses Guide 2.jpg


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