'86 ur-q & 'ZZZ' VINs

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <35585D4C.297A908A@multiverse.com> harrison writes:

> Where are you getting the VIN from?

We're once more helping the police with their enquiries into a probable
stolen vehicle.  The engine number has been ground off and restamped
as a "KV" - it's actually a "WR" and the police have recovered some
of the digits.  The chassis number on the firewall has been crudely
chopped in from another car and is illogical - its date letter is for
the year _after_ the paperwork says the car was first registered, the
chassis number does not start with a '9' as all cars did in that year,
and it's a five-digit number.  The alloy plate has been similarly
forged.

There are clues, of course, because there were so many running changes.
We've been able to help the police in a number of ways, and with any
luck, the real owner will have a chance to get his car back.

Sometimes, the person who currently 'owns' the car is just as much a
victim, losing the money they paid for the car.  On this occasion, I
find it hard to be sympathetic since they have operated the car for
so long that they _must_ have had recourse to servicing and buying
spares.  The chassis and engine numbers are just so ludicrous that
anyone seeing them would know the car was 'not right'.

There are other places where the VIN is recorded on an Audi.  I ask the
group _NOT_ to discuss these in public - they're a last line of defence.
In this case, the third location has been accidentally damaged and is
inconclusive.

--
 Phil Payne
 Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 01536 723021
 (The contents of this post will _NOT_ appear in the UK Newsletter.)