Morris Minor Owners Club

This might sound a bit stupid but i have a 1970's mini, i know the reg number and it comes back as non problematic on Hpi check, At some point it had work started on the front and the vin plate was removed, I have searched box after box for it, So now i cannot find the VIN platei am stuck, the Hpi does not show the VIN as its not been registered since the 80's, Does anyone know how to get a vin from a reg number? i can normally work things like this out but i am stumped ....

olderisbetter wrote:This might sound a bit stupid bte a 1970's mini, i know the reg number and it comes back as non problematic on Hpi check, At some point it had work started on the front and the vin plate was removed, I have searched box after box for it, So now i cannot find the VIN platei am stuck, the Hpi does not show the VIN as its not been registered since the 80's, Does anyone know how to get a vin from a reg number? i can normally work things like this out but i am stumped ....

Stamped into the firewall somewhere - tag on the inner flitch somewhere? Go onto the Mini forum for advice.

Just apply for the V5C from DVLA ?

I have some odd numbers on the inner wing above where the radiator was so maybe the mini forums could be a shot, and bmceccose i was going to apply for a v5c but from what i saw i need to fill out a v62 and that requires the vin number or they wont process it...catch22

Do you anyone who works in a main car dealer? If you do they can run a full vehicle check which will 100% come back with the vin number,I know as a friend of mine did this for me for a mk2 escort last year . I could not find the vin plate either and the strut had been welded over so no chassic stamp there to get it. Anyway the check he did have me the full vin number

On my '91 Cooper the VIN is also stamped in the recess where the bonnet edge sits, at the back just below the scuttle and off centre to the drivers side. Difficult to see with the bonnet in place but confirmed it by taking a picture on my phone. Hope this helps.

On 1990s Minis that was indeed the case. It wasn't in the 1970s however In fact, a 1970s Mini doesn't strictly HAVE a VIN number but a chassis number instead.

As far as I know the chassis number is not stamped in anywhere on home market Minis built in that period.

Bummer, thought I had it sussed

Thank for everyones help, Problen now sorted.

olderisbetter wrote:Thank for everyones help, Problen now sorted.

You can't leave it like that - HOW was it sorted ?

@PSL184, sorted by a friendly guy using the reg number at a parts supplier.

I recently purchased a motorcycle that has been off the road for 20 years or so. Purchased without the V5. And as stated DVLA will not give you the V5 unless you also state the VIN number as well as the reg.
Anyway, it turns out that the VIN on the frame does not match what they have on their records. I may get a number plate for it yet, we'll see. Odd as it came with an old tax disc and the reg plate. Maybe some skullduggery in the past.

I also learnt that the chaps that do your MOT's have DVLA access to the VIN and can verify and cross reference the numbers. I only know this as a chap purchased a motorcycle from me recently and he had direct access to check my bike was cosha (and it was).
I did wonder if you know someone in the trade then, maybe you could access the VIN on the DVLA records. If that is what is being implied in this thread.

On some parts sites where you put your reg number in to list your car you can view the page source code and it clearly shows the VIN number, I will try and post how but i am not sure of the site rules as this could be used for a bad reason. If you pm me i can point you to a link to explain it.

You could fit one off a scrap car, it seems to be common place these days

mike.perry wrote:You could fit one off a scrap car, it seems to be common place these days

One in Oz, a Cowley export being passed off as a CKD!

Not just UK.

Easy way to find the vin number on older cars is to take them for an MOT test. You don't need a visible chassis plate on older cars (can't remember the year offhand) and the certificate you get will have the vin number on!

Another way, I've used in the past is to use the V62 form and just state 'illegible due to corrosion' for the vin number. May not work now, but it has before...