|
 Several
inquiries to the Register have asked where to find the ‘S’-type’s
identification numbers. All of the original identification
numbers are stamped on a plate in the engine compartment. Most
plates are on the firewall but a few are on the left-hand inner
wing. Numbers are repeated on the item itself (as described below)
and if they do not match those on the plate, that component has been
replaced and is not original. All original numbers of your ‘S’-type
are also available from the
Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT).
Chassis or car (VIN) number
The chassis number will also be etched or stamped in the bonnet
catch channel forward of the radiator header tank. It breaks down
into four components: a ‘P’ prefix indicates
that the car has power steering; ‘1B’ is the ‘S’-type designator;
the next four or five digits are the cars serial number; finally
there are two possible suffixes, ‘BW’ indicting a Borg Warner
automatic transmission and ‘DN’ indicating that the car has Laycock
d’Normanville overdrive with its four speed manual gearbox. If there
are no suffixes, the car has manual transmission without overdrive.
rhd (right hand drive) 3.4’s chassis
numbers began with 1B1001, lhd (left hand drive) 3.4’s began with
1B25001, rhd 3.8’s began with 1B50001, and lhd 3.8’s began at
1B75001
Engine number
The engine number is also stamped on the two major engine
components: block; and head. It is on the right hand side of the
cylinder block above the oil filter and on the front of the cylinder
head casting beside the front (#6) spark plug hole. The number has
three elements: a ‘7B’ prefix indicating that it is an ‘S’-type
engine, a four or five-digit number, and a compression ratio suffix
(/7, /8 or /9) indicating a 7:1, 8:1 or 9:1 compression ratio. 3.4
litre engines have a four-digit number, 7B1001 onwards and 3.8
litres a five digit number beginning at 7B50001.
Body number
The body number also appears stamped on a small plate riveted to the
right rear of the body under the rear bumper. On some cars there
will be a similar plate on the left side, which is a Pressed Steel
reference number and will be different from the body number. The
body number begins ‘4B’ followed by 4 or 5-digits. 3.4 ‘S’s have a
four-digit number and 3.8 ‘S’s a five digit number. Pressed Steel
numbers begin with a ‘D’ and are usually followed by 6 digits.
Gearbox number
The gearbox number of standard transmission cars, both OD
(overdrive) and non-OD, is stamped on a small shoulder at the
left-hand rear corner of the gearbox and on the rim of the core plug
aperture on the top cover. The earlier ‘Moss’ gearbox begins with
‘GBN’ followed by four or five-digits and the suffix ‘JS’. The later
Jaguar all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox has the prefix ‘JBN’,
three, four or five-digits and no suffix.
Automatic transmissions have their number stamped on a plate
attached to the left-hand side of the housing. They begin ‘JBC’
followed by four or five-digits and usually a ‘P’. Some very late
(1968 build date) 3.4 ‘S’-types were fitted with the later ‘FG’
automatic gearbox.
Build Date (this is NOT
stamped on the plate)
This is the date the car was actually manufactured and will be
different from the date of first registration. The build date can
only be obtained from Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT). The
easiest way to obtain your certificate is at the
Jag-lovers website; You must provide as many of your car’s
‘numbers’ as you can and, in return, you will receive a very nice
‘certificate’ with all original information including build date,
original colors, factory options, first owner, etc.
|
