The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi all and sorry if it's been asked before
I'm trying to find out how to read the vin
Number
It's Only 8 letters and numbers long
As I'm trying to find out when my car was made
As my log book only shows date of registration
Thanks

Your logbook should show you the vin number ( note to self must read posts correctly ).

For Sprints, very rough figures:

1973 VA1 to 5446
1974 VA5447 to 9678
1975 until May VA9679 to 13268
1975 May onwards VA15000

I was trying to find a great informative forum post from awhile back and have just managed to find it: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4127

Thanks I'm trying to understand it all as my vin number is the same as the comm.nc number on the metal plate on the car but in a different order I'm trying to find the date it was made thanks

Thanks Galileo iv read the link twice now and will no doubt read it again it's a lot of great info but sadly still can't find my answer and my head is spinning wanting to no more about my car

Sorry glor but your car does not have a VIN number only the commission number you have already found. Dolomites did not get VIN numbers till late 1979. Presumably your car is earlier than that.

If it's a Sprint, there is enough information available that, if you give me the commission number, I can narrow down the probable build date to a 7 day period. The only way to be more precise is to get a Heritage certificate from BMITH at Gaydon. This will give you a build date or date of dispatch (the day it left the factory which is unlikely to be the same thing, but close enough) original specification, original engine number and usually the name and general location of the dealer who sold it new.

Steve

It's all a bit confusing really.

There are two types of car identification numbering, Commission numbers and VIN numbers. Commission numbers are sometimes referred to as VIN's as this is how we refer to a cars identification now hence the confusion. However they are the same thing, a cars identification number which donates model and serial number all stamped to a plate on the left hand side inner wing of the car.

There was a change from using a Commission number to using a VIN number in around early 1980 this also coincided with BL stamping the VIN on the body of the car, normally around the bootlid lip.

Generally if your car was built between 1972 and 1979 it will probably have a commission number as per the table Galileo posted, the plate will look like this.



From 1980 all cars had a VIN number all starting with TW and will look something like this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_i ... ion_number
A link to the history of VIN, I had assumed it was a EU directive. The info is from Wiki, so not necessariliy 100%!

Carledo wrote:Sorry glor but your car does not have a VIN number only the commission number you have already found. Dolomites did not get VIN numbers till late 1979. Presumably your car is earlier than that.

If it's a Sprint, there is enough information available that, if you give me the commission number, I can narrow down the probable build date to a 7 day period. The only way to be more precise is to get a Heritage certificate from BMITH at Gaydon. This will give you a build date or date of dispatch (the day it left the factory which is unlikely to be the same thing, but close enough) original specification, original engine number and usually the name and general location of the dealer who sold it new.

Steve

Hi, ok hopefully this will help, also the car is a dolomite not sprint if that makes any difference.
The commission number that's stamped on to the plate says wg5350dl
Yet on my v5 it says the car's Vin is wg5530dl, so it's pretty confusing as it's all the same digits but in a different order, on my v5 it says the date of registration is 18/07/1977.

glor wrote:

Carledo wrote:Sorry glor but your car does not have a VIN number only the commission number you have already found. Dolomites did not get VIN numbers till late 1979. Presumably your car is earlier than that.

If it's a Sprint, there is enough information available that, if you give me the commission number, I can narrow down the probable build date to a 7 day period. The only way to be more precise is to get a Heritage certificate from BMITH at Gaydon. This will give you a build date or date of dispatch (the day it left the factory which is unlikely to be the same thing, but close enough) original specification, original engine number and usually the name and general location of the dealer who sold it new.

Steve

Hi, ok hopefully this will help, also the car is a dolomite not sprint if that makes any difference.
The commission number that's stamped on to the plate says wg5350dl
Yet on my v5 it says the car's Vin is wg5530dl, so it's pretty confusing as it's all the same digits but in a different order, on my v5 it says the date of registration is 18/07/1977.

That IS confusing, but it is just a typo by DVLA, the number on the car will be the correct one! You really should get this corrected on the V5 with DVLA before someone decides it's a ringer!
Since it's not a Sprint, but a non HL 1500, I cant help much with dating it, but the DOFR is fairly consistent with the comm number since that particular model was only introduced in 1976 and made in relatively low numbers compared with it's upmarket stablemate, the 1500HL.

Steve

FWIW James's number is consistent with an early 73 build date. I have 1925* and it was built just after Christmas 72 so qualified just for historic status despote an April 73 reg date.

Jonners

poisson d'avril

If you want the build date, you want a factory record search certificate. £42 from http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ ... umber.html.

No I was being genuine....
Its an early 73 car on that VIN plate..

Jonners

Jon Tilson wrote:No I was being genuine....
Its an early 73 car on that VIN plate..

Jonners

NO it isn't Jonners! If it was an early Dolomite, ie an 1850 then the number would be correct for a 73 car. But the comm number would be WFxxxxDL, not the WG prefixed number that the OP has. WG, as demonstrated by Galileo's post above, is, or SHOULD be, a flat dash 1500 Dolomite which was only introduced at the range rationalisation of 76. Which makes his 5xxx comm number consistent with a 77 DOFR.

Steve