Have you ever discovered a mysterious number on your XJ-SC Cabriolet and wondered what it relates to — or why it is there at all?
On most Jaguar-built XJ-SC Cabriolets, a hand-stamped number can be found hidden away in the rain gutter of the boot (or trunk), on the left-hand side of the car, just forward of the rear lights.
Many owners initially insist their car does not have such a number — only to return a few days later having found it. Curiosity, it seems, is a powerful thing.
Over the years, several theories have been suggested as to what this number represents. One early assumption was that it might be the car’s body number. However, this was quickly ruled out: genuine body numbers begin with either 5Y00 or 5V00 and are located beneath the rear bumper, not in the boot gutter.
Another idea was that the number might reflect the vehicle’s position on the production line. This, too, was discounted after it became clear that th
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