That Elusive Number

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    • #3028
      John Bleasdale
        @bleasie

        Hi Gang
        Most Cabriolet’s have that elusive number that is not recorded anywhere in the Archives at JDHT.
        I was told many years ago that it was the Body Number. But as we all know that starts either 5Y00 or 5V00 and is well hidden under the rear bumper. It does not relate to the number off the Line.
        So what is it / was it for. Have you worked out which number I mean? I bet most of you have never seen it.
        When I ask most Owners they say there isn’t one, then a few days later oh I have found it.
        Yes that’s the one in the rain gutter of the Boot / Trunk. Left hand side Fwd of rear lights.
        I was told by a man who worked on the production line at the time, now Curator of Vehicles JDHT (can’t remember his name, Lots of E’s & F’s) that there was a little man who looked After the body shells & that he stamped them, and it was his way of stock taking. ???????
        So if you can locate it. Please get in touch or if you have another version Of why it’s there feel free.

        Photo 431

        Bleasie

      • #3403
        Stig Moltu-Jacobsen
          @stigmoltu-jacobsen

          Hi Laurence!

          I first didn’t think my car had the elusive number, but after a thorough check I found three digits, i.e. 620, barely visible under the new resto paint from 2013. I’ve tried to take several photos as proof, but none of them are convincing. Unless later photography will give better photos, you’ll just have to take my word for it, or better yet come to Spain to see for yourselves 🙂

        • #3449
          John Bleasdale
            @bleasie

            Thanks Stig.
            How long has it taken you to find that out.
            I have just discovered that Stephen Tebben USA & Braham Lieberman Australia have consecutive boot numbers.
            Braham #1794 build date 15/10/1985 Car number 1113
            Stephen #1795 build date 19/03/1986 Car number 1802
            almost 5 months later and 689 Cabriolets separates them so you can see how erratic the marking was.
            Steve’s other one is #2351 Build date 23/06/1986
            Of the Cabriolets we have located 1,836 we only have 265 here is a reminder of where it is located

            Photo 431

          • #3584
            Thomas Hasenstaub
              @thomashasenstaub

              Dear Bleasie,
              The elusive number on my cabriolet is 1143. It is an 86 3.6 5-speed (vin 126155), one of the few “gray market” 3.6 cabriolets that made it to the United States. Please let me know if you need any other info.
              Thanks, Tom

              • #3592
                John Bleasdale
                  @bleasie

                  Hi Thomas many thanks I have had your Cabriolet on the Data Base for many years 2011 I believe June 15th, You must have at some time supplied your boot number I had not spotted until to day it’s a German spec car Must check & see if I have any more 3.6 cars in USA.I have you listed as living in Bellevue Nebraska, perviously Eau Caire Wisconsin,
                  Regards
                  Bleasie.

              • #3959
                Trevor Kent
                  @trevorkent

                  Eureka, having poured over my nearside boot gutter 4455 is revealed for my 1987 XJ-SC RHD 3.6 Auto. Bleasie will be ecstatic! Trevor Kent

                • #4413
                  Jon Scales
                    @jonscales

                    Not sure whether Dad managed to locate the number for his cabriolet. I am getting the car next week so will have a look

                    Jon

                  • #4429
                    John Bleasdale
                      @bleasie

                      Cheers John no Albert never did get round to supplying it suspect it will be around 4000

                    • #4444
                      Ian Mitchell
                        @ianmitchell

                        Hi Bleasie,
                        Mine looks to have 5036 stamped in it (hard to tell as the paint has filled in a lot of the first and third digits).
                        Cheers, Ian (VIN 147465)

                        • #4460
                          John Bleasdale
                            @bleasie

                            Hi Ian that looks pretty realistic nearest to your #5062 and #5047
                            Many thanks
                            Bleasie

                        • #4849
                          Jon Scales
                            @jonscales

                            Mine looks like 4063

                          • #4857
                            Mark Thorley
                              @m164

                              Mine is 1730 🙂

                            • #5100
                              Laurence Jones
                                @laurence_admin

                                A couple of Hidden numbers for you John

                                VIN 122590 – 456

                                VIN 140236 – 3751

                                • #5141
                                  John Bleasdale
                                    @bleasie

                                    Cheers Laurence Both from Richard Marsh’s cars if my records are still up to date.

                                    • #5143
                                      Laurence Jones
                                        @laurence_admin

                                        Your records are still correct.

                                        Laurence

                                  • #7706
                                    Michael Hampton
                                      @mandshampton2000

                                      Hi Gang
                                      Responding to the Elusive number game
                                      my XJS Cabby in metallic red with reg number E739NVT and vin as per photo has the number 4151 on the nearside of the boot gutter
                                      Regards Mike Hampton (of Aldwick Bognor Regis – not many Cabby owners south of us in UK!)

                                      PS I tried copying in from WORD two photos of the 4151 and the VIN but it did not want to accept the photos from a WORD document. I have no idea howto include those so take my word the VIN is SAJJNACC7CA142922

                                    • #7730
                                      Evert Mos
                                        @evertmos

                                        My car, has 1770 as a lucky number:
                                        VIN = 131892
                                        Body = 5V 2103
                                        And there’s another number, on the opposite side of the Body number: 2JB27D 0413021
                                        Any ideas?
                                        Cheers,
                                        Evert

                                        • #7827
                                          John Bleasdale
                                            @bleasie

                                            Hi Evert
                                            The number on the left hand side is know as the Castle Bromwich Body number again not listed
                                            Thanks for supplying your boot number ( Body Shell Number )

                                            Cheers Bleasie.

                                        • #9356
                                          eddiepanton
                                            @eddie-panton

                                            hi bleasie

                                            got a weird one for you

                                            my 3.6 cabby has the boot gutter number 1451

                                            however the 4 has been overstamped with a 2

                                            therefore it could be 1251

                                            does this make it worth millions like a misshapen penny black or just a typo from the bodywork man

                                            cheers eddie

                                          • #9615
                                            John Bleasdale
                                              @bleasie

                                              Hi Eddie 1251 looks to be correct as 1287—1230 are pretty close to you
                                              Sorry not worth any more
                                              Regards Bleasie.

                                            • #9617
                                              eddiepanton
                                                @eddie-panton

                                                i was hoping for a lottery win with the typo but never mind

                                              • #9717
                                                David Wardale
                                                  @robertdavidwardale

                                                  I was out in the cold garage a while ago, and found the magic number. Clearly stamped- 3888.
                                                  Regards, Dave W.

                                                  • #9771
                                                    John Bleasdale
                                                      @bleasie

                                                      Thanks Dave much appreciate.
                                                      Regards
                                                      John.

                                                  • #10327
                                                    Martin Ball
                                                      @ball

                                                      My 85 XJSC Australian delivered V12’s number is 1252 SAJJNACY3CC126830. One off Eddie Panton’s 1251. Is there a pattern here? Regards Martin

                                                    • #14075
                                                      Craig Drust
                                                        @drusty

                                                        Hi my elusive no =

                                                        Photo 1603
                                                        53

                                                      • #14995
                                                        Danny Karch
                                                          @majestic12

                                                          Hi Bleasie,
                                                          Mine has 2616 stamped in it, VIN 134597. Unfortunately I can’t add a picture.

                                                          Regards,
                                                          Danny

                                                           

                                                        • #16786
                                                          David Troughton
                                                            @mytocon

                                                            I have an early cabriolet, registered in August 1984. This number is 382.

                                                             

                                                          • #18043
                                                            Steve Moore
                                                              @catman

                                                              Greetings,

                                                              My Elusive number is 4601 stamped into the left rear drain trough.  The plate under the rear bumper is 5Y 4365.   Should they be the same?

                                                              Thank you,

                                                              Steve Moore

                                                            • #18133
                                                              Russ Cramer
                                                                @russccptd-net

                                                                Hi Everyone

                                                                The number stamped in the gutter of my boot is #2283, I’d be interested to learn where that dates my Jaguar XJS-C in the production schedule?  I thought it was either a late 1985 or an early 1986?  I’ be interested to learn where it fits.

                                                                Best to all,

                                                                Russ Cramer

                                                                Pocono Manor, PA (USA)

                                                                 

                                                                • #18317
                                                                  Ian Mitchell
                                                                    @ianmitchell

                                                                    Hi Russ,

                                                                    You can get a Production Record Trace Certificate from the Jaguar Heritage Trust (about AUD100.00 from memory). You can also get a rough idea at xjsdata.com. A previous owner may have logged your car in their database, or you could browse a VIN range to check details for cars either side of your VIN. Warning – the browse functionality can be inconsistent.

                                                                    Cheers, Ian.

                                                                • #19531
                                                                  Brian Parsons
                                                                    @xjscuk

                                                                    Hi
                                                                    Just joined and of course have completed the cabriolet game known  as find the number

                                                                    And it is ……………..    750       She is a 1985 V12 cabrilolet  vin …..123499

                                                                    I have owned her sinnce 1990 although she has been dry stored for 20 plus years

                                                                     

                                                                     

                                                                  • #19921
                                                                    Dean Sheppard
                                                                      @dshepster

                                                                      Hi There,

                                                                      I have 2 of these cars:

                                                                      1986 Cabriolet with secret code of 2301

                                                                      1987 Cabriolet with secret code 2626

                                                                      Details for each car are stored in my profile. I hope that helps!

                                                                      Dean.

                                                                      • #19931
                                                                        Laurence Jones
                                                                          @laurence_admin

                                                                          Thanks Dean, I’ll make sure we’ve got those details recorded on the Cabriolet Register.

                                                                          Laurence

                                                                      • #19936

                                                                        Hi my boot gutter number is 4487  Vin number 144679  Don..

                                                                      • #20329
                                                                        Michael Brouillette
                                                                          @north-carolina-scot

                                                                          Michael Brouillette 87 XJ-SC North Carolina USA Boot gutter # 2832 VIN 135686

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