I've just bought a jaguar and need help with the VIN number.
It is BIF8483BW
Date of registration 1/1/1969
What is the car?

 

Welcome to the forum Alan,

The BW suffix indicates Borg Warner automatic transmission. Posting a photo would make further identification much easier.


Graham

 

 

Alan,

I meant a photo of the car.

Graham

 

Graham, if I post a picture of the car, and I will at some point, the thread will get diverted from the original question. Can we identify the car from the VIN?
If I post a picture people will just say, that's a.....
I'm trying to establish if, as I think, I have bought something a bit special but a can't find identify it from starting at the car.
Alan

 

Alan,

It's not a VIN, it's a chassis number. Jaguar didn't start using the VIN identifier until the 1980's.

Whilst a 17 digit VIN tells quite a lot about a vehicle, the earlier chassis numbers were generally just a consecutive series and gave little more information than Model, LHD/RHD and transmission.

If you want the original factory build specifiction, then Jaguar Heritage will probably be able to provide this:

Jaguar Heritage. Heritage Certificate

Graham

 

I'm trying to establish if I've bought one of the twelve jaguar mk2 referred to as 380 that were special orders.
Mk2 shape.
Registered 1969 01/01
3.8l

 

Here's the Chassis Number ranges for MkII, 240 and 340:


(click on the image to enlarge it)

Your B prefix would indicate South African assembly (exported from Coventry, UK as a KD kit). According to the records, the 3.8 ceased production in 1967MY after a production run of 27,848.

Jaguar Heritage is definitely the best option to unravel exactly what you have.

Graham

 

Thank you for that. Mine doesn't match any of those which is why I need the serial numbers for the twelve 380's
Thanks anyway.

 

I suggest that you might try the vin decoder found at jagstyperegister.com. The site is obviously dedicated to the S-type, but the vin decoder should work. It is under "your s-type", then "online decoder". There may be an expert there who could tell you the vins in question. Good luck!

 

Thanks, but it's not an S Type.

 

I understand that, but its not an S-type specific decoder. In any case I went there and tried it myself. BIF8483BW comes up nothing, As does B1F8483BW. Is there a possibility the title has a misprint and is different than that on the body plate?

 

You'll have to zoom in.

 

I've just had a reply from somebody inside jaguar.
Thanks for all the help I got.
Your car was a 4.2l built in South Africa. Recorded as A1F8483BW but prefix changed to B1F when constructed in SA

 

Hi all, I just acquired XJ6 S1 manufactured in South Africa. Manufacturing year perhaps 1969 or 1970.
I couldn't find number stamped on left front arch as advised by fellow owners. The VIN plate exist, though.
I also received reply from other owner through FB group that his SA made (1971) car doesn't have number stamping either.

May I ask if any SA made S1 owner here to confirm location of the number stamping of the car?
Is there's possiblity of non stamping practice at that period of time?

 

Help decoding 1971 XK6 VIN
The VIN on the door panel is: 1L 61542