Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes)/Land Rover/VIN Codes

From 1948 to the early eighties, Land Rover used for their cars chassis numbers of their own format. These formats are described in the table below. Since 1980 Land Rover deploys the standard 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), complying with international standards.

Car details can be derived (decoded, calculated) from the chassis numbers and the VIN. Typically, the model (Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, Freelander), model type (station wagon, three/four door, etc), wheelbase (90 inch, 100 inch, 110 inch, etc.), engine, LHD/RHD, gearbox, and model year is included in the VIN.

Chassis number formats over the years

edit
Description      Format
17-characters, International VIN, 1980-laterSAL..............
17-characters, Int. VIN for LR do Brazil 93R..............
17-characters, Int. VIN for AAD, 1985-1995 AAD..............
17-characters, US/Canada VIN, 1987-later SAL.................
17-characters, Brazil VIN for JLR Brazil, 2016-later 99J.................
14-characters: is actually the 17-char
VIN missing the SAL bit
9-character numbers, 1955 17.6.....
9-character numbers, 1956 to 1961 1........
9-character numbers, 1950 L........ or R........
9-character numbers, 1962 to 1979 .........
8-character numbers, 1948 to 1949 .8......
8-character numbers, 1950 to 1953 .6......
8-character numbers, 1954 to 1955 .7......
7-character numbers, 1948 to 1949 .......
6-character numbers, ???? prototypes 110F..
3-character numbers, 1948 prototypes R.. or L..

Plant Codes

edit
  • A - Solihull, West Midlands, England, UK
  • H - Halewood, Merseyside, England, UK
  • 2 - Nitra, Slovakia
edit