Hi guys and gals.

I am a newb to this forum but not a newb to Fords as I am now the wrong side of 40 and have had many...nearly all of which I had kept and sold now so I could retire

Anyways...on my travels I came across a bit of a rare old beast...it's badged as an XR3i yet has pop out rear windows and Recaros (possible factory options or maybe retro fitted). I couldn't find any number plates on the car and no vin plates on the slam panel but further investigation in the footwell and I got a number starting WFOBXXGCAB******* which tells me it's a Cologne built one. I work in the car industry and have access to a parts website that will decode all vehicles from the vin...except this one.... when I enter the number it says "vehicle not found". I am certain I am entering the vin correctly but some people say there is no use of the letter 'O' in a vin number as it can be confused with '0'...so it's a bit of a head scratcher.

I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced a car not showing up on a vin decoder. I am reluctant to upload a photo of the full vin number for obvious reasons but any light on the subject would be helpful. Many thanks

 

 

Thanks mate.

Even with the 0 though, I'm still struggling as it's difficult to make out the last 2 letters after the WF0BXXGCAB bit...so I'm currently just trying all combinations. Is there any way a car's vin can become de-registered do you think? I don't think so myself but this is proving to be a bit of a mystery machine. Thanks

 

Success...turns out it is an 85 C plate XR3i...it's in great shape considering how long it's been standing and I mean no offence to the Brentwood built ones but I'm guessing that German built ones would be a bit more well engineered. I found it in a field and it has practically zero rust apart from a bit on the front scuttle but compared to other 'barn finds' I've seen it's pretty solid...and requires very little tlc to put her back on the road.

 

 

I hear what you are saying Rob but after successfully decoding the vin and getting the reg I can see that there are no skeletons in the closet. She's simply been off the road for 16 years is all. She'll be back soon though

 

I see your located in east Anglia magicmart. where abouts are you? nice to see some local ppl on here

 

strange as i have recently found what appears to be a 88 rs turbo down here in australia with a very similar vin as yours which also gives no info? WF0BXXGCAVJC-----

 

yours is may 88

 

Thanks ...I did find info on another post. Aparantky it's made in Germany

 

thanks, so if it was made in may 88...would it have sat in a yard or shipped to uk and arrive and first registered after august 88? making it a f reg? or do uk dvla go off the manufactured date? here in australia you can buy a 2020 car now for example that was made last year so its reallu a 2019 car

 

How do you know its Cologne built? I was always told mine is but never verified it

My VIN starts WE0BXXGCABB...

 

All Fords built in Germany start with WF0. Although I'm not sure if the Escort was ever built in the Cologne plant, probably all Escorts were built in Saarlouis.