Build dates and VIN numbers

[paulheritage]

Is there a list anywhere that shows known build dates and VIN numbers? I know there are estimates in many books about when some VINs started and stopped, but wondered if owners that have had their car dates checked have ever published what they find.

I currently have ACG3115 & ACG35005 (and may soon have an earlier one) and I obviously know when they were first registered but would be nice to look at a VIN and be able to tell which month it was most likely built based on other owners having theirs properly checked. I know it isn't 100% accurate but if someone knew theirs was built in July 1976 and was ACG3150 I could presume my Java car would be similar.

I guess that could lead onto another question, and if this hasn't been done it would be great to get the info published presuming enough people have accurate info.

Cheers Paul,

1976 TR7 FHC (ACG 3115) - Java Green
1977 TR7V8 3.9 FHC rally car (ACG 35005) - Tahiti Blue
1980 TR7V8 3.9 DHC - Orient Blue

www.TR7.co.uk

[Odd]

Such info is available - for (mainly the '81) TR8...
Don't think anyone would have the time/bother doing it for the much larger volume of sevens.

[Chris Turner]

Its very difficult to match vin nos with dates as they weren't always built in order. For instance ACG 185 was built 3 months before ACG97. My Coke car is ACG 35038 which is near to your 35005 which is the 5th car built using the later shell, mine is the 38th car built, this means they were both probably built in January 1978.


THE Coca Cola car
The C+C Conversions rally car JDG 941V
TR7 Sprint SJW 530S on the road for the 1st time since 1984
TR7 Sprint SJW 539S
TR7 Sprint SJW 545S about to start my last ever restoration.
TUD 682T

[supercass]

I'm quite curious about the use of body shell numbers and their sequence and significance. supercass

[paulheritage]

My ACG35005 car was registered 17th October 1977 and according to Bill Piggots book the 35001+ cars were built from August 1977 so fits quite well if correct.

Cheers Paul,

1976 TR7 FHC (ACG 3115) - Java Green
1977 TR7V8 3.9 FHC rally car (ACG 35005) - Tahiti Blue
1980 TR7V8 3.9 DHC - Orient Blue

www.TR7.co.uk

[TR Tony]

Don't forget Speke was on strike from October 77 to March 78, very few cars were built during that time, by managers & engineers I believe.

The revised bodyshell was in use from August 77 so your car, Paul, must have been built early in that August - October period, although as Chris says numbers were not used in strict order.

Of course you can get a Heritage Certificate to give you a more accurate date [:)]

Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">

[Chris Turner]

Although it was built in early 1978 mine wasn't registered until the 10th August 1978 to be given as first prize in the August Coca Cola competition.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
THE Coca Cola car
The C+C Conversions rally car JDG 941V
TR7 Sprint SJW 530S on the road for the 1st time since 1984
TR7 Sprint SJW 539S
TR7 Sprint SJW 545S about to start my last ever restoration.
TUD 682T

[Roy Hankins]

My old Inca Yellow automatic was built on the 9th August 1977 using the 78 bodyshell and had a chassis number of ACG 26126 way before the official ACG 35000.

Build dates and chassis numbers are a bit of a lottery I'm afraid within the BL empire.

Roy

[Sautie]

The answer is quite simple . contact the Heritage Trust, pay the fee & they will send you a certified copy of the factory record.
This shows Make, Model,Engine No,Body No,Spec,Colour-exterior-trim-hood,
DATE of BUILD,Date of Despatch, Destination, Key Numbers, Factory Fitted Equipment.
So over to you.[:p]

[Odd]

"pay the fee & they will send you a certified copy of the factory record" - Yes, but only for the one vehicle.

And if the nerdy part of us Wedgies should have any chance of doing any form of scientific research on matters TR7/8 production
- we need lots of vehicles data, preferrably ALL of them! Things like build date, body number, VIN, market/destination and specification.
And it's highly unlikely Heritage would give us such info due to the simple fact they need/want their income from the certificate fees...[}:)]

If this data were in the public domain - we'd win and they'd loose... So it's just as highly unlikely it will be public domain data
before the cars, and owners, are since long gone.