How to decode that 17 digit Land Rover Chassis Number (VIN) on a modern day Land Rover.
For Example you will find the number looking something like this:-
SALLDVBF7JA234243
This breaks down as follows:-
1st digit S = Region and S is Europe
2nd digit A = U. K.
3rd digit L = British Leyland-Land Rover
So if you don't have SAL, then it isn't a Land Rover.
4th & 5th Digits = Vehicle Type
LB = Series III's, lightweights and Stage 1
LD = 90 and 110, Defender 90, 110 & 130
LH = Range Rover Mk1
LJ = Discovery
LM = Range Rover L322
LN = Freelander
LP = Range Rover P38
LT = Discovery Series II
6th Digit = Wheelbase
A = 88" Series 3, Defender 90" Heavy Duty, Range Rover Classic 100", Range Rover (P38) 108", Freelander
B = 88" Series 3 Lightweight, Defender 110" Heavy Duty, Range Rover Classic LSE 108", Freelander Commercial
C = 109" Series 3 (1 Ton), Defender 130" Heavy Duty
D = 109" Series 3
G = 100" Discovery
H = 110" Defender and 147" Defender
K = 127" Defender (130)
M = All Specials
R = Military 110" (24 Volt)
S = Military 90" (24 Volt)
V = 92.3" (LR 90)
7th Digit = Body Type
A = Truck cab, Soft Top, Hardtop Van Commercial, Freelander 3 Door Commercial, Discovery 3 or 5 Door
B = 3 Door Station Wagon, Range Rover Classic 2 Door, Discovery 3 Door, Freelander 5 Door
E = 2 Door Crew Cab
F = 4 Door Crew Cab
H = High Capacity Pick-Up with/without crew cab
M = 5 Door Station Wagon, 7 Door Station Wagon, Range Rover Classic 5 Door, Range Rover (P38) 5 Door, Discovery 5 Door
R = Monteverdi Range Rover
8th Digit = Engine Type
A = 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, High Compression Unleaded
B = 2.5L Inline 4 cyl Turbo Diesel, 19J 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder, 'L' Series, turbo-diesel
C = 2.5L Inline 4 cylinder NA Diesel, 12J 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, Low Compression Unleaded
D = 2.5L Inline 4Cyl Petrol, 17H 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, Low Compression Leaded
E = 3.5L, V8 carb, petrol, High Compression, 2.4L, inline 4 cylinder, VM Diesel 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder, BMW M47 (Td4), diesel
F = 200 & 300 Tdi 2.5L Inline 4 Cyl Turbo Diesel, non EGR/cat, 11L or 16L, 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, High Compression Leaded
G = 2.25L Inline 4 Cylinder Diesel, 2.5L V6 "KV6" Series Unleaded
H = 2.25L inline 4 Cylinder Petrol, 2.5L, V6, 'KV6' Series, Leaded
J = 4.6L, V8 Efi petrol, 2.5L, V6, 'KV6' Series, Ethanol
K = 2.5L Inline 4Cyl Diesel (300TDi Rest of World Spec)
L = 3.5L, V8 Efi, petrol
M = 3.9L & 4.0L V8 Injection (EFi) petrol
N = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, VM Diesel
P = 2.6L Inline 6 Cyl Petrol (IOE)
V = 3.5 V8 Petrol (Carbs) Low Compression
W = 2.5L, inline 6 cylinder, BMW Diesel
Y = 2.0L Inline 4 Cylinder T16 Petrol (Mpi)
Z = 3.9 Izuzu Diesel
1 = 4.0L, V8Efi, Low Compression with Cat
2 = 4.0L, V8Efi, High Compression with Cat
3 = 4.0L, V8Efi, Low Compression without Cat
6 = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, turbo-diesel (200Tdi/300Tdi) EGR/cat
8 = Td5 2.5L 5 Cylinder Turbo Diesel with EGR
9 = TD5 2.5L, inline 5 cylinder, turbo-diesel EGR without Cat (Disco II), 2.8L, inline 6 cylinder, M52 BMW petrol
9th Digit = Steering & Transmission
1 = RHD 4 Speed manual Series 3, RHD 4 Speed manual LT95, RHD 5 Speed Auto JATCO
2 = LHD 4 Speed manual Series 3, LHD 4 Speed manual LT95, LHD 5 Speed Auto JATCO
3 = RHD 3 Speed Auto Chrysler 747, RHD 4 Speed Auto ZF
4 = LHD 3 Speed Auto Chrysler 747, LHD 4 Speed Auto ZF
5 = RHD 4 Speed manual + Overdrive
6 = LHD 4 Speed manual + Overdrive
7 = RHD 5 Speed manual LT77, RHD 5 Speed manual LT77S, RHD 5 Speed manual LT85, RHD 5 Speed manual R380, RHD 5 Speed manual PG1
8 = LHD 5 Speed manual LT77, LHD 5 Speed manual LT77S, LHD 5 Speed manual LT85, LHD 5 Speed manual R380, LHD 5 Speed manual PG1
10th Digit = Model - Year
A = 1979 - 1984 (See Note 1)
B = 1984 - 1986 (See Note 1)
C = 1986
D = 1987
E = 1988
F = 1989
G = 1990
H = 1991
J = 1992
K = 1993
L = 1994
M = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
8 = 2008
9 = 2009
11th Digit = Assembly Location
A = Solihull
F = CKD
H = Halewood
V = South Africa
12th to 17th Digits are the individual Chassis Serial Number
Hope this is of some help for those who are trying to work out the orgin of there particular Land Rover, and even what it may have been when it left the factory.
1. The numbering scheme for 'A' and 'B' model year codes is not the same on all vehicles. Land Rover Series III vehicles with 'A' codes were manufactured from 1979-1984. Production of the Series III ceased in 1984. Range Rover Classic vehicles with 'A' codes were manufactured from 1979-1984, followed by vehicles with 'B' codes from 1984-86. The remaining Range Rover chassis numbers follow the listed pattern. Land Rover 90 and 110 vehicles with 'A' and 'B' codes are not easily distinguishable, but no issues currently surround these vehicles that require the model year to be known.
For Example you will find the number looking something like this:-
SALLDVBF7JA234243
This breaks down as follows:-
1st digit S = Region and S is Europe
2nd digit A = U. K.
3rd digit L = British Leyland-Land Rover
So if you don't have SAL, then it isn't a Land Rover.
4th & 5th Digits = Vehicle Type
LB = Series III's, lightweights and Stage 1
LD = 90 and 110, Defender 90, 110 & 130
LH = Range Rover Mk1
LJ = Discovery
LM = Range Rover L322
LN = Freelander
LP = Range Rover P38
LT = Discovery Series II
6th Digit = Wheelbase
A = 88" Series 3, Defender 90" Heavy Duty, Range Rover Classic 100", Range Rover (P38) 108", Freelander
B = 88" Series 3 Lightweight, Defender 110" Heavy Duty, Range Rover Classic LSE 108", Freelander Commercial
C = 109" Series 3 (1 Ton), Defender 130" Heavy Duty
D = 109" Series 3
G = 100" Discovery
H = 110" Defender and 147" Defender
K = 127" Defender (130)
M = All Specials
R = Military 110" (24 Volt)
S = Military 90" (24 Volt)
V = 92.3" (LR 90)
7th Digit = Body Type
A = Truck cab, Soft Top, Hardtop Van Commercial, Freelander 3 Door Commercial, Discovery 3 or 5 Door
B = 3 Door Station Wagon, Range Rover Classic 2 Door, Discovery 3 Door, Freelander 5 Door
E = 2 Door Crew Cab
F = 4 Door Crew Cab
H = High Capacity Pick-Up with/without crew cab
M = 5 Door Station Wagon, 7 Door Station Wagon, Range Rover Classic 5 Door, Range Rover (P38) 5 Door, Discovery 5 Door
R = Monteverdi Range Rover
8th Digit = Engine Type
A = 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, High Compression Unleaded
B = 2.5L Inline 4 cyl Turbo Diesel, 19J 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder, 'L' Series, turbo-diesel
C = 2.5L Inline 4 cylinder NA Diesel, 12J 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, Low Compression Unleaded
D = 2.5L Inline 4Cyl Petrol, 17H 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, Low Compression Leaded
E = 3.5L, V8 carb, petrol, High Compression, 2.4L, inline 4 cylinder, VM Diesel 2.0L, inline 4 cylinder, BMW M47 (Td4), diesel
F = 200 & 300 Tdi 2.5L Inline 4 Cyl Turbo Diesel, non EGR/cat, 11L or 16L, 1.8L, inline 4 cylinder, 'K' Series, High Compression Leaded
G = 2.25L Inline 4 Cylinder Diesel, 2.5L V6 "KV6" Series Unleaded
H = 2.25L inline 4 Cylinder Petrol, 2.5L, V6, 'KV6' Series, Leaded
J = 4.6L, V8 Efi petrol, 2.5L, V6, 'KV6' Series, Ethanol
K = 2.5L Inline 4Cyl Diesel (300TDi Rest of World Spec)
L = 3.5L, V8 Efi, petrol
M = 3.9L & 4.0L V8 Injection (EFi) petrol
N = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, VM Diesel
P = 2.6L Inline 6 Cyl Petrol (IOE)
V = 3.5 V8 Petrol (Carbs) Low Compression
W = 2.5L, inline 6 cylinder, BMW Diesel
Y = 2.0L Inline 4 Cylinder T16 Petrol (Mpi)
Z = 3.9 Izuzu Diesel
1 = 4.0L, V8Efi, Low Compression with Cat
2 = 4.0L, V8Efi, High Compression with Cat
3 = 4.0L, V8Efi, Low Compression without Cat
6 = 2.5L, inline 4 cylinder, turbo-diesel (200Tdi/300Tdi) EGR/cat
8 = Td5 2.5L 5 Cylinder Turbo Diesel with EGR
9 = TD5 2.5L, inline 5 cylinder, turbo-diesel EGR without Cat (Disco II), 2.8L, inline 6 cylinder, M52 BMW petrol
9th Digit = Steering & Transmission
1 = RHD 4 Speed manual Series 3, RHD 4 Speed manual LT95, RHD 5 Speed Auto JATCO
2 = LHD 4 Speed manual Series 3, LHD 4 Speed manual LT95, LHD 5 Speed Auto JATCO
3 = RHD 3 Speed Auto Chrysler 747, RHD 4 Speed Auto ZF
4 = LHD 3 Speed Auto Chrysler 747, LHD 4 Speed Auto ZF
5 = RHD 4 Speed manual + Overdrive
6 = LHD 4 Speed manual + Overdrive
7 = RHD 5 Speed manual LT77, RHD 5 Speed manual LT77S, RHD 5 Speed manual LT85, RHD 5 Speed manual R380, RHD 5 Speed manual PG1
8 = LHD 5 Speed manual LT77, LHD 5 Speed manual LT77S, LHD 5 Speed manual LT85, LHD 5 Speed manual R380, LHD 5 Speed manual PG1
10th Digit = Model - Year
A = 1979 - 1984 (See Note 1)
B = 1984 - 1986 (See Note 1)
C = 1986
D = 1987
E = 1988
F = 1989
G = 1990
H = 1991
J = 1992
K = 1993
L = 1994
M = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
8 = 2008
9 = 2009
11th Digit = Assembly Location
A = Solihull
F = CKD
H = Halewood
V = South Africa
12th to 17th Digits are the individual Chassis Serial Number
Hope this is of some help for those who are trying to work out the orgin of there particular Land Rover, and even what it may have been when it left the factory.
1. The numbering scheme for 'A' and 'B' model year codes is not the same on all vehicles. Land Rover Series III vehicles with 'A' codes were manufactured from 1979-1984. Production of the Series III ceased in 1984. Range Rover Classic vehicles with 'A' codes were manufactured from 1979-1984, followed by vehicles with 'B' codes from 1984-86. The remaining Range Rover chassis numbers follow the listed pattern. Land Rover 90 and 110 vehicles with 'A' and 'B' codes are not easily distinguishable, but no issues currently surround these vehicles that require the model year to be known.
