Viscount Ambassador - Query on incorrect chassis number

[jb77]

Hi there!

I have been reading a lot on your boards here and think that a van I'm looking at buying is a 1969/1970 Viscount Ambassador Alumvan - based on the stripes from the old imagery and the shape above tyres and windows etc. it has a brand new draw bar though and I feel that the Chassis number is incorrect - as the biggest D number should be D1790 ish from what I've read here and this is WAY bigger than that.... it's registered in VIC but with no chassis number. Can you please tell me why someone would re-do the chassis number, if that's what's happened here? And if so, what are the implications of that?

Thanks so much in advance - your knowledge is amazing and I've learnt so much on your site already!!!

Thanks, JB

[hughdeany]

Hi jb77,
Sounds like your van has a new vin number which is 17 letters and numbers,used on new vans since 1989 and used vans where the chassis number has been lost/ removed etc.
Is this the number you mean? Usually stamped on the top of the A frame,not welded which your Viscount would have had.
Hope this helps
Cheers
hughdeany

[jb77]

Thanks Hugh - no it's definitely not a VIN - and he said it's the Chassis number - but it is a D with 7 numbers afterwards.... DXXXXXX4 - I can only see that it's been marked into the brand new draw bar. Not sure if that helps but I'm stumped! Thanks so much!

[Roehm3108]

There are many reasons why people rebuild a drawbar. Perhaps the old one was rusted, or the owner wanted a longer one. Before VIN numbers were introduced, when I had an unregistered trailer and wanted to register it, I merely used the numbers from my birthday as the number! So there may well be no logical reason for your number being what it is. If the van is still registered you should still be able to use the number on the drawbar. With my current van, when I went to change ownership, the welded-on chassis number didn't exist (according to Main Roads) so I had to bring the trailer in to have an inspector view it before they would accept it without having to change it to a VIN number. You may need to do the same.

[jb77]

Thanks so much for the info!! Yeah I understand why the draw bar would've been replaced, but the chassis number not matching the era was a bit of a confusing one for me. It's registered in VIC, but with no chassis number, which I understand is common, but I need to register it in NSW, and with the changes that came in last year, I therefore need to go to ROVER to get a VIN. I'm just feeling a bit suss on the sale I guess and am trying to look into it a bit deeper before committing. Is it worth asking for pics of the trailer plate? Thanks again for your time!