100% original 70 Series (LJ70), "Small/Cut" Chassis ID plate in engine bay. (2 Viewers)

[kmarkegaard]

Hi, Really need some expert help. I have an 100% original LJ70 that has been in the family since new. Never modified,never crashed,painted or altered in any way.
I have also found other cars in my country produced at the same time ( November/Desember - 1985 ) that has the same issue.

These cars does not have the standard large ID plate in the engine bay. but the ID plate has been cut down to the last 2 lines from the factory, only having model and options listed.
Meaning VIN has been removed from the plate before install.
(Please see photo)

Does anyone have a car with the same plate, or does anyone know why this was done to a few cars.

I have some DMW issue due to this. So any insight would be helpfull

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

I can't help other than to say that the rivets are not original (they would not cover the edge of the ID tag and are not using the holes that would have been in the centreline of the tag). So someone has taken that off, trimmed it and riveted it back on.

The VIN would have been JT1V0LJ70 and then probably six or seven digits. They started production in November 1985 so if that's when yours was made, it would have a very low number I think.

 

[kmarkegaard]

I can't help other than to say that the rivets are not original (they would not cover the edge of the ID tag. So someone has taken that off, trimmed it and riveted it back on.

The VIN would have been JT1V0LJ70 and then probably six or seven digits. They started production in November 1985 so if that's when yours was made, it would have a very low number I think.

Yes. They started on VIN 9004644 in Nov 85. My vIn is 04753 produced in Nov. 85.
I also have another standard 2L car that we found, VIN:04197 produced in Oct 85 that has the same cut plate.
You are correct, plate has been cut by eider Toyota themselved, or the importer. But car has been in our garage since new, so we now with sertanty that it has not been done post delivery.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

I doubt very much it would be Toyota who did that, so it must be your local authorities. If I was to make a wild guess I would say that it was to do with a tax loophole, registering it as a commercial vehicle or a military reserve vehicle etc.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Will they not accept the VIN number on the frame?

 

[kmarkegaard]

We came closer to an answer today. Looks like this happended around production date Oct 85 to around Jan 86 for the new Production of the Turbo LJ70 (2L-T) I have used the day calling all owners of local DNV register. All cars from JT1V0LJ709004700 to JT1V0LJ709004800 +some before and after was actually allocated to Toyota Norway and they all have the same Cut ID plate when delivered from the factory. Cars manifactured in 1986 has again the standard ID plate.

 

[kmarkegaard]

Teory: Since the LandCruiser 70 series had the frame with its given frame number manufactured at Toyota's TMC Honsya front plant, also known as A11. To then be sent on to the Arakawa Auto Body Yoshiwara Plant, where the given frame was assembled with a body, it makes sense that for some countries without a requirement for double frame numbers, they took a shortcut and only issued plates in the engine compartment with the required fields for the car's type designation and options on the body.

 

[kmarkegaard]

Will they not accept the VIN number on the frame?

Back in 86 it was normal for cars to have 2 location for VIN numbers but not mandatory by the DNV. Some DNV´s are skeptical and starts asking questions when they see an old car, with an original ID plate that is clearly cut in half, questioning if someone is trying to fool the system abd match 2 different cars together..... Understandable.... I would have been better that Toyota never cut this plate in half and send the car without a plate instead...

 

[OGBeno]

Teory: Since the LandCruiser 70 series had the frame with its given frame number manufactured at Toyota's TMC Honsya front plant, also known as A11. To then be sent on to the Arakawa Auto Body Yoshiwara Plant, where the given frame was assembled with a body, it makes sense that for some countries without a requirement for double frame numbers, they took a shortcut and only issued plates in the engine compartment with the required fields for the car's type designation and options on the body.

Slight correction: the Land Cruiser frame manufacture:

Honsha: Plant A1
Land Cruiser Frame manufacture: Assembly line #1

= Plant A11.

 

[Fishbulb]

If you were really curious you could inquire with Toyota and find out what transmission, transfer case and axle serial numbers are supposed to be assigned to that VIN and see if they match then you will really know if that’s the VIN that belongs to that vehicle or not.

 

[hoser]

In the US, body shops can have plates and stickers reproduced for when they are damaged in an accident. Perhaps Norway has something similar? If no luck, there are folks that reproduce vintage data plates.... for restoration purposes.