new FD3 owner

[JohnandNikki Merrill]

Hi all, just become an RX7 owner, my son has been an owner for a while with his FD3, and i recently bought a "barn find" FD3.

it is an import and there is very little paperwork with it, previous MOT's and road tax but all in Japanese, unfortunately the original owner who imported had died and his wife has thrown out most of the paperwork.

there is not a import certificate, and without one i am struggling to get it UK registered, any ideas?

it was stood for 7 years outside but is in remarkably good condition, i have attached a photo showing the VIN number etc..

any help deciphering this would be appreciated.

[Casey]

Hi and a warm welcome to the MRC 

An interesting and challenging barn find - but aren't all rotaries challenging anyway 

I'm sorry I can't help with the import issue or the Japanese, but hopefully someone else will be along shortly who can help.

[neil_jdmr]

Vehicle line is the production line number in mazda manufacturing
Destination is Japan Domestic
RE02- rotary engine02
13b - engine code
Suspension -?
Seat - I think thats stc - standard car??
Ext colour 3L silver stone
Int colour Fe5 black

[neil_jdmr]

Oh and welcome ;-)

[JohnandNikki Merrill]

thanks for all of your responses, much appreciated.

when i look online for Mazda VIN numbers it asks for a 17 digit number, and i have seen posts about generating a code using various other characters. Something like this, JM1FD3310P0203212, the trouble is(and i might be being a bit thick) they talk about which factory it was built at and other things, so not getting my head around it.

if i can find a correct VIN, i can attempt to get it registered, i have emailed the Japanese DVLA, the company in Japan that sold it and UK customs and excise, as yet no responses.

if i cant register it, it will be a shame but think i will have to break it for parts.

any help will be appreciated

[neil_jdmr]

Vin numbers are on the bulkhead right??

[clive]

First up  to MRC

Not sure where your based, but It may be an idea to go along to an SVA test centre armed with any info, plus pictures of the stamped chassis number off the body and ask how you can proceed

As Neil says, hopefully it has numbers on the drivers side bulkhead     

[jinx]

The vin should be embossed into a metal plate attached by screws to the bulkhead under the bonnet - immediately in front of driver's position. If that is missing for some reason the same number should be stamped directly into the bulkhead pressing nearer the centre of the bulkhead and clearly visible (with the bonnet up!).

The 'registration' VIN consists of a block of four alpha numeric characters defining the model then a hyphen and six numeric characters eg: FD3S-123456   That is as much information as ever appeared on the V5 for mine. The number should allow you to date it even if you have no other information and, unless someone else with more experience of import licensing can contradict, it should be enough to get an age related plate assigned by the DVLA?

[JohnandNikki Merrill]

Thanks for all of the advice, yes the alpha numeric VIN is stamped on the bulkhead, but wasnt sure if that was enough to register the car as its an import and i dont have an import certificate.
i will try and register it with the VIN and see what happens.

we are in Hertfordshire so will keep an eye out for any other RX7's about.