VIN numbers and car dating.....

Now here's a thing.  I just bought an MGF so I don't as yet have a DVLA log book for it and it's yet to be delivered so I don't have the actual plates that are installed inside the car.  Right now the only thing I have is the sales invoice, which has the VIN number hand-written on it.  Just for a laugh I thought I'd try and figure out its inner meanings.  The VIN as written appears to be SARRDWBGB, then a letter that might be a 2 or a Z or an S, and then D529964.  Now SARRD is the manufacturer info, W is the body/trim level, B means its a 2-seater convertible, G means it has 1.8 litre K series engine and the second B means it's right-hand drive manual.  All of which is correct.  Next comes my stumbling block (2 or Z or S?) and then D for Longbridge built and the chassis number (529964).

According to Rob Bell the recalcitrant letter refers to the year of manufacture. Neither 'S' not 'Z' appears on Rob's list so that's those two ruled out.  Numbers apparently began with '1' for 2001 and ran consecutively up to '9' for 2009.  So it's a 2002 car, right?  That's the only thing it can be.  Except it was first registered on 15 June 2001

Am I going bonkerser than I thought I was or is there a lightly wafting smell of fish in the air?

Rodders

 

2002 is the model year, and it's common for a model year to start around the middle of the preceeding year (so 2002MY cars would typically appear from around mid 2001)

Gosh - what naughtiness will the car manufacturers get up to next, I ask myself!  Thank you for this priceless insight, which has completely eradicated le pong des poissons from my itty-bitty work corner.  MG wouldn't have dreamed of doing this back in the day.  I've just been told the car's arriving tomorrow so all will be revealed when I get my hands on the log book.

Thanks again my friend

Rodders

Good luck with the car's grand arrival tomorrow. It sounds like a late Mk2 F and you mentioned it is a 1.8 Tell us more , is it a 120 or a VVT etc ? Please feed us with photos
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It is, AFAIK, a bog-standard 2001-registered 2002 model year MGF 1.8i 120 in solar red with a black and red leather interior, a low spoiler at the rear of the boot lid but no front air dam.  Mrs me currently has a 2004 1.8i TF in solar red.  Previously we've owned a 1929 M-Type Midget, a YA, a ZA, four 'modern' midgets, three ZTTs, a MuGeBuGeTy (MGB GT to you), three MGFs, an MG Metro, an MG Metro Turbo and a 2003 MG TF.  I'll post some pics when I have some