I was looking for some parts online and noticed that the VIN number on my jaguar is indicated the model as "VANDEN PLAS". SAJ "K". The vehicle is marked with "SOVEREIGN" and there is no indication of it being a "VANDEN PLAS". Could this have been an error? They have different parts for these two models.

 

Is this the VIN from the windshield pillar, or from the cowl panel?

Cheers
DD

 

From vehicle registration and windshield plate

 

That's the North American VIN, assigned by Jaguar to meet North American convention. Whatever source you're using to decode it might not be able to digest it. Try the VIN that's stamped onto the flat ledge at the top of the cowl panel....right about where the two fender braces comes together. That's the number the car was "born with", so to speak.

Cheers
DD

 

As Doug says.

What year is it, and what grill does it have. I believe that the VDP cars had a fluted grill whereas the Sov's didn't.

Oh btw, we have a couple of VIN decoders in the FAQ above, but use the VIN no from the panel as mentioned.

 

The VIN on the cowl plate is SAJJKLLD4LJ618405. I'm still trying to find the right decoder.

 

Is this supposed to be a Ser III car? What year/style? The "618405" is well beyond Ser III range.

Cheers
DD

 

I tried it on a couple decoder pages and it isn't panning out. It shows as a 1990 Canadian market VDP...which would be a Ser III car, have a V12 engine...and would have a last six of something like "480xxx" or thereabouts

We need to find a decoder that works on non-North American VINs

Cheers
DD

 

Looks like both apply. This car is a 1990 XJ40 4.0L. The base car is a Sovereign, but the Vanden Plas is a higher trim level, a little upscale compared to the Sovereign.

Cheers,

 

I presume that's from the Jaguar data base? Very good :-)

The description "VDP 4.0 Sov 1990" is contradictory, though.

For the Canadian market a 1990 "VDP" would be a Ser III V12 but a "Sovereign" would be the XJ40 car, as mentioned.

I guess even Jaguar had problems getting the database correct for all years/models/markets :-)

Cheers
DD

 

Well, as you mentioned in your post, a Series III would have a VIN similar to 48xxxx. The 618xxx is the giveaway that the car is an XJ40, as is the 4.0L engine. 504xxx to 708xxx VIN's are all XJ40's. Also, the Sovereign name was resurrected in 1990 so the XJ6 name could be used for the stripped down base car for that year. It was without sunroof and without the stainless trim on the door frames. The fancier trim and appointments were added to the Sovereign to make it the Vanden Plas.

Cheers,

 

Right! I'm not disputing that the car in an XJ40. I just found it odd to describe the car as both a Sovereign and a VDP :-)

Cheers
DD

 

Just smack me!

I'm used to scads of owner questions about that, so the explanation just pops out. Ya gotta love those Brits!

Cheers,

 

This is an 1990 Jaguar XJ6 4.0L Sovereign. (Early 1990 series). I found one decoder which decoded the original VIN as coming from a Sovereign. The confusion was with the NA VIN decoding as a Vanden Plas. This car does have the higher trim level and accessories listed as standard on the Vanden Plas.

 

Well, I think there's no way around some of these glitches. Whoever sets up these decoder sites gets the data from....somewhere....and can't possibly verify its accuracy for all manufacturers, all markets, etc.

The Jaguar model line-ups (and many others, no doubt) can be very confusing because of market-to-market variations and model name usage. If I'm correct that the info from XJRGuy came from Jaguar's own database it proves how complex it can be, as Jaguar itself decodes the VIN as both a VDP and a Sovereign :-).

One example, albeit one involving a very small number of cars, would be the last of the Canadian V12 Ser IIIs. These last 100 cars were built as Daimler VDPs and the VINs decode as Daimler...but the cars are badged "Jaguar VDP".

Cheers
DD

 

As usual, Doug, you are right on the money. That was straight from Jaguar, the very place we go for all the correct warranty, model and equipment info for any Jaguar in question.

Cheers,