Lotusfan Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I'm curious, in 1992, were chassis plates given to all Caterhams? I'm purchasing a car from the original kit builder, with all paperwork including the original invoice from Sevens and Elans in Massachusetts, that was built from a kit but there is no chassis plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Ask the builder, Sevens & Elans....Have you looked under the pedal cover box in the engine compartment? Am sure that it was originally available came with the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 I'm curious, in 1992, were chassis plates given to all Caterhams? I'm purchasing a car from the original kit builder, with all paperwork including the original invoice from Sevens and Elans in Massachusetts, that was built from a kit but there is no chassis plate. This is no reflection on S&E, as the car was built by, and now being sold by, someone other than them, but if it doesn't have the chassis plate that ALL cars/kits came with, be cautious, even suspicious.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 (edited) Ross. are you referring to one of these or the where the chassis number is stamped & welded into the frame? Edited February 12, 2018 by wemtd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfan Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 My question was referring to a plate. The owner explained that there is a chassis number under the pedal box cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Paul - its a 1992 Caterham so the plate would look like this: http://www.vin-plate.co.uk/VIN%20PLATE%20IMAGES/caterham%20replacement%20VIN%20chassis%20black%20plate.jpg Lotusfan - Have you validated the chassis stamping under pedal box with title VIN? This is not the first time a question identical to yours has come up. Separately, one small interest item to check is whether it is one of the last Arch Motors chassis or the newer brazed chassis. The changeover period was around 1992. Check around base of roll bar where it meets rear suspension upright on the right hand passenger side (assuming this is a LHD car). Arch used to stamp their production chassis there with their ID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfan Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share Posted February 12, 2018 I won't be getting the car for another couple of months, but I have zero concerns about the owner or story on the car as he is a friend of a friend and was the sole, very meticulous owner. It was tracked only and only recently converted to be street legal. It was never previously registered or titled for the street, sold to him on a bill of sale as a kit. It has a PA title now but the numbers on that are PA numbers and have nothing to do with the chassis number. It will be a while until I can check into the Arch situation. I only raise the question in regards to getting a replacement plate from Caterham and for future explanation years hence if I ever sell the car. Thanks for all of the replies and for any further information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenup Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Not sure about other states, but in Ohio the number one criteria when purchasing a vehicle is that the VIN# on the chassis matches the VIN# on the title... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastg Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 My Locost was originally titles in AZ and it was allocated a VIN#. It has a sticker showing the VIN# but they put the sticker on the Aluminum bodywork, not a frame rail. I am thinking of replacing the body work. If I do I am going to take a lot of pictures and turn the sticker into a plate and rivet it to a frame rail. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inchoate Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 My car came with a VIN number but no chassis plate. It was quite a journey but I was eventually able to confirm that the VIN number on the DOT documents was in fact the VIN that the car came with from Caterham. I'm still can't decide if I should make up a chassis plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Separately, one small interest item to check is whether it is one of the last Arch Motors chassis or the newer brazed chassis. The changeover period was around 1992. Check around base of roll bar where it meets rear suspension upright on the right hand passenger side (assuming this is a LHD car). Arch used to stamp their production chassis there with their ID. I think you might be thinking of some other change that occurred in 1992? I thought the departure from Arch Motor-built chassis happened around 2006-ish time frame. My 2006 car is an Arch chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 You could be right Sean. Was it the long cockpit being introduced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick OTeen Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 I thought the departure from Arch Motor-built chassis happened around 2006-ish time frame. My 2006 car is an Arch chassis.Yes, likewise with my 2005 SV which has, what I was told to be, one of the last few of the Arch-produced frames. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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