ive been working on this chassis number thing for a number off months now there are to many so called experts on this subject matter i for 1 dont think the full truth will ever come out after all these years.
and i will only beleive it when i see with my own eyes a ford "FRANKED" document not just a letter head stating fact..
ive been a rs owner since 1986 and been a member of the rsoc since 1989 in that time ive owned over 20 rs's
including
2 rs500's
3 4x4 saph cos
1 2wd saph cos
1 esc cos
4 were up and 3 were down
the 3 that were down were fully documented history wise and all old mots aswell..
2 more thing for you lot to think about

1
one of my cars with the chassis numbers down was inspected by vosa ...the vehicle inspectoate
the reason it was inspected by them on behalf of the dvla was
when i bought it it was on a private plate the car had been off the road for a couple off years
i had a agency who wanted to buy the plate off me for good money so i spoke to the relevant rs register who advised me to see if i could put the original plate on the car if i did sell it as there was some history attached to the car with the original plate ..
so i asked the dvla about this ...they said i could have the plate back if i was willing to have a full inspection to satisfy them the car is what it was ..
i went to the manchester area vosa depot at the time it was called the vi "vehicle inspectoate" now called vosa
full turn out including... slam panel vin plate,chassis stamp,engine number and full document check inspection..including putting the car on a ramp to check the underside
they were fully satisfyed that the car was 100% ok and gave me dvla letter head to prove ....
2
my uncle worked for ford from 1984-1991
and in that time went to halewood and dagenham to witness how things were done he even worked at halewood for a time
and in his words he saw on the production line, failure of certain mechanical items including the chassis process..
ive no proof of this but why would he lie ??
darren barber rs member 15400
but he also said these failures were put right when they were inspected at the end off each process by hand ........some food for thought i think