Caterham21 chassis number / I need to double check

[marcos59]

Is my 21 a 21 ???  

I need to check: SDK R D C A R8 V 0 0400??

For me:
SDK= Caterham Cars
R=RHD
D=De dion
C=CKD
A=Alternative (not HPC/SV/CSR etc..)
R8= VHPD ....perhaps because engine number stated on CoNC and V5 is R8-400??
V= 1997 model year ?! is that exact?
00= separation digit ?! is that exact?
400??= Serial number

Is it similar for other 21 owners ? this should mean nothing differ from a 21 and a 7 on chassis number?

However Chris Rees' book "Caterham Sevens From Conception to CSR" state:
First 21  SDKRDCVXR21 009999
Last 21  SDKRDSARCX21 0040066

This  mean that there was at least 67 21's registered

 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Nicolas

I'll cross check with mine/my paperwork over the weekend. We know much of your car's history.There were two series of chassis numbers.

[marcos59]

Thanks !

Also if C mean CKD it is quite strange for an ex demo/press car firstly registered to Jez COATES name

[tbird]

presumably, as archivist, Martin61 on here could help as well , maybe message him 

 

Tim

[Ian Mackenzie]

Yes Martin is very helpful, he helped me with my car.

Cheers

Ian

[MartinPhipps]

Hi Nicolas,

I had a look in the archives earlier in the week. The first 21, which went to Japan, does indeed have the chassis #009999 and there are then two series of chassis numbers 000001 - 000012 and 40001 - 40068.

When a customer places an order, the order is allocated to a chassis number that is used as the reference through the build and in communications with the customer. If the order is later canceled, the chassis number is never issued -  this is why there are fewer cars than the number ranges imply. For example, the buyers of cars allocated with 40003, 40004 and 40005 all canceled their orders.

Please let me know if there is anything else that you need.

Martin

[France North AR]

Many thanks Martin that's very interesting to know !

Yes I have few more questions, I will PM you.