Engine serial number decode

[Andy69]

So I get the impression that Caterham used its own engine serial numbering for the data plate. Is there any way to decode this? Examples I've seen have the form of KD-XXXXX-XX with the last two digits being letters. Mine has the form KD-XXXX-XX.

 

I ask this because mine is a 1992 model with a Supersport 1.4 K-series (fuel injected), but those didn't appear until 1993.

[yellowss7]

Does this help?

 

[h=4]Post 1990[/h]

Sometime after 1990, European legislation demanded 17 character VIN codes for all cars. Here are some examples:

SDKRDKCR8V0020587 1997 1.8

SDKRDKLR8X0021432 1998 SuperLight? with 1.8l engine

SDKRDKCR8Y0021805 2000 1.8 K

Posn Item Values Interpretation

1-3 MID SDK Manufacturers' Identification Code for Caterham Cars

4 Chassis Configuration L or R Left or Right Hand Drive

5 Chassis Configuration D DeDion?

L Long cockpit

C Classic (axle)

W Wishbone

6 Build Type C CKD (Completeley Knocked Down) not Starter Kit

F Limited Volume Type Approved Fully Built

K Kit Built

S Factory Built

7 Chassis Type A Alternative

C Clubman

H HPC

L Superlight

O Other

R Race Chassis (or perhaps Road)

S Starter Kit

T Track

3=Series 3

5=Series 5(SV)

6=CSR

8-9 Engine NS Engine Not Supplied

BB Blackbird

C0 Duratec

C1 200 HP 2.3 Cosworth Euro 4 emissions

C2 260 HP 2.3 Cosworth

C3 200 HP Duratec 2.3

C4 Cosworth 2.0 Duratec race

C5 210 HP Duratec 2.0

C6 BDR 1600

C7 BDR 1700

C8 BDR 1800

DS Duratec Supercharged

D1 200 HP Duratec Euro 4

D2 170 HP Duratec 2.0

D3 170 HP Duratec 2.0 Euro 4

D4 200 HP Duratec Euro 5

D5 260 HP Duratec 2.0

D6 170 HP Duratec 2.0 Euro 5

FB Fireblade

GS 100 BHP 1600 Crossflow

GT 84 BHP 1600 CrossFlow?

MK 110 BHP 1600 CrossFlow? ('sprint')

RC Rover VVC

RD Rover VHPD

RI Rover K-Series 1.4l (post1992)

RJ Rover K-Series 1.4l 2002 onwards

R3 R300

R4 R400

R5 1800 VHPD (230 HP) Rover K-Series (R500)

R6 Rover 1.6l

R8 Rover 1.8l

SE Sigma, Euro 4 emissions

SF Sigma, Euro 5 emissions

S0 Sigma

S1 Sigma 125 HP

S2 Sigma standard power

S3 Sigma 140 HP

S4 Sigma 150 HP

S5 Sigma mid power

S6 Sigma high power

TC Twin Cam

VI Vauxhall Injection

VJ Vauxhall Injection

VT Vauxhall Turbo

VX Vauxhall Carburettored 2.0l

XC Vauxhall 8-Valve 1.6l

XS Vauxhall 8-Valve 1.8l

17 1700cc Super Sprint

Z2 Suzuki K6A Turbocharged 80bhp EU6

10 Chassis Year M-Y M=91, N=92, P=93, Y=2000

1-> 1=2001, 2=2002 etc until 2010, first number after 2010)

11-17 Chassis Number nnnnnnnn Chassis Number until 2010

11 Chassis Year 0-> Year indicator (from 2010)

12 Gearbox 5=5 speed gearbox

6=6 speed gearbox

0=no gearbox (for non-approved vehicles)

13 Package 1=Starter Kit

must be 7 from 2010 2=Series 3 Kit

onwards 3=Series 3

4=Caterham21

5=Series 5 (V)

6=CSR

7=Special

14-17 Chassis Number nnnn Caterham vehicle identification number

[Andy69]

Yes that answers most of my questions. Thank you.

 

And at the same time confuses me as to my particular car.

 

The title says 1992, and the chassis year (N) matches.

 

But the engine is a supersport k-series with FI, which also matches the RI in digits 8-9 (decodes as “post 1992”).

 

Is a mismatch in years like this common?

 

 

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Edited July 18, 2019 by Andy69