From 1981 the chassisnumbers were integrated with those of the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur. No longer they consisted of 3 characters and 5 digits, but now the number was enlarged to 17 characters and digits. An apparently inscrutable code. But even this number is easy to read, after some study.
This page deals with the mechanism of the chassisnumbers of the Corniche and Continental (1981 - 1995), the Camargue (1981 - 1986) and the other Rolls-Royce and Bentley models up to and including 2002, the last year the Silver Seraph was produced.
The chassisnumberplates of the Corniches and Continentals from 1981 are located in the hinge post of the front door.
This is the plate of the royal blue Bentley Continental KCX29150 from 1989.
1. The meaning of the letters and digits
In the next table the 17 letters and digits are explained that occur in a chassisnumber from 1981 and later. That is done by reading the number from left to right and counting the position. The example I use is the chassisnumber of the above mentioned Bentley Continental, SCBZD02A5KCX29150.
Position |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
Value |
S |
C |
B |
Z |
D |
0 |
2 |
A |
5 |
K |
C |
X |
2 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
The codes have the next meaning:
Position |
The meaning |
The possible values and the explanation |
1 and 2 |
Manufacturer |
These characters are the "World Manufacturer Identifier - country", which means that the Rolls-Royce factory was located in England.
These letters are always SC: S = Europe (position 1), C = England (position 2). |
3 |
The marque |
This is the "World Manufacturer Identifier - marque".
A = Rolls-Royce
B = Bentley |
4 |
The line of manufacture
based on the chassis- or underframe type |
L = Silver Seraph and Arnage
P = Phantom VI
Y = Camargue (until end of production in 1986) and the early (in this counting) Corniches (1980 and 1981)
Z = Corniches from 1982 and Continentals from 1984; also all other types Rolls-Royce and Bentley from 1980 like Silver Spirit, Silver Spur, Mulsanne, Eight, Azure, etc.
Early Corniches with the 17-digit chassisnumbers had a "half-way house" underframe, on the Corniche indicated with SY and on the Silver Spirit with SZ. This frame was applied from the chassisnumbers 50000 (1979). When also the Corniches were applied with the CYZ underframe (on the Spirit indicated with "Rear Suspension Package") and therefore thoroughly became identical to the Spirit-specifications, the character was changed into Z (1982). |
5
4 and 5 |
The body type
The model |
All charactersof the alphabet, below explaned in conjunction with digit 4.
Corniche, Continental and Camargue:
YD = Corniche convertible (until 1982)
YJ = Camargue
ZC = Corniche S (1995)
ZD = Corniche conv, II, III and IV (1982-1995); B Corniche and Continental (1982-1995)
Other models from 1980:
ZA = Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn
ZB = Bentley Continental R and Continental S
ZC = Rolls-Royce Corniche S (1995) and Bentley Continental Turbocharged (1995)
ZE = Bentley Eight (from 1987) and Bentley Brooklands (from 1993)
ZF = Bentley Brooklands Long Wheelbase
ZG = Rolls-Royce Flying Spur
ZK = Bentley Azure (from 1996) and Rolls-Royce Corniche (from 2000)
ZL = Long Wheelbase with division (Silver Spur with division)
ZN = LWB without division (Silver Spur; Mulsanne LWB, Turbocharged L and Turbocharged RL (until 1989))
ZP = Bentley Turbocharged RL (Long Wheelbase) from 1989
ZR = Bentley Turbocharged R (from 1989)
ZS = Saloon (Spirit, Mulsanne, Mulsanne Turbocharged, Eight (until 1987), Turbocharged R (until 1989))
ZT = Bentley Turbocharged S
ZU = Bentley Continental T
ZV = Silver Spur Park Ward Limousine
ZW = Silver Spur Touring Limousine (from modelyear 1992)
ZX = Silver Spur Limousine (1998) and Mulsanne Limousine
ZY = Silver Spur Extended
ZZ = Bentley Continental SC
Silver Seraph and Arnage:
LA = Silver Seraph
LB = Arnage, Arnage Green Label, Arnage Birkin
LC = Arnage Red Label, Arnage Le Mans, Arnage R
LD = Park Ward (Rolls-Royce) (from 2000)
LE = Arnage LWB
LF = Arnage T (black label)
Phantom VI:
PA = Phantom VI Protected Limousine
PM = Phantom VI Limousine
PT = Phantom VI Landaulette and Phantom VI Armoured |
6, 7 and 8 |
US requirements |
Specifications in accordance with the American law for the engine type (6), naturally aspirated or turbocharged (7) and the occupant-restraint system (8).
Corniches with the American specifications had the value 42A.
Corniches for other markets all had 000.
From modelyear 1987 the system of numbering for the digits 6, 7 and 8 changed (see below). |
6 |
Engine type |
Corniche, Continental and Camargue (6750 cc V8):
4 = Type L410 engine for the American market (until 1987)
0 = Other than American markets until 1987 and all markets from 1987
Other Rolls-Royce and Bentley models from 1980
0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 8 (see under digit 7) |
7
6 and 7 |
Aspiration
Engine type |
All digits 0 up to and including 9 and the character T, below indicated in conjunction with digit 6.
(OBD = On-Board Diagnostic system; OBDI until circa 1997, OBDII from circa 1995
EOBD = Enhanced OBD)
Corniche, Continental and Camargue (6750 cc V8):
00 = Naturally aspirated, non-catalyst (up to 1995)
02 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst (from 1987)
03 = Turbocharged, with catalyst (Corniche S and Continental Turbocharged, 1995)
42 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst (until chassisnumber 20240, 1987)
Names of the engine types
00: engine type is called L410I
01: engine type not known
02: engine type is called L410
03: engine type is called L410MTKR
04: engine type is called L410MTER
05: engine type is called L410MTKS
06: engine type is called L410MTKS
Other models from 1980 with 6750 cc V8 engine:
00 = Naturally aspirated, non-catalyst (up to 1995)
01 = Naturally aspirated (Phantom VI)
02 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst (from chassisnumber 20240, 1987)
03 = Turbocharged, with catalyst (from 1988)
04 = Turbocharged, non-catalyst (from 1988)
05 = Turbocharged, with catalyst (Turbocharged S)
06 = Turbocharged, non-catalyst (Turbocharged S)
0T = Turbocharged, with catalyst (tot 1998)
11 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst and OBDII (from modelyear 1996)
12 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst and OBDI (from modelyear 1996)
13 = Naturally aspirated, non-catalyst (from modelyear 1996)
14 = Turbocharged, with catalyst and OBDII (from modelyear 1996)
15 = Turbocharged, with catalyst and OBDI (from modelyear 1996)
16 = Turbocharged, non-catalyst (from modelyear 1996)
17 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst, OBDI and traction assistance (from modelyear 1996)
18 = Naturally aspirated, non-catalyst and with OBDI and traction assistance (from 1996)
19 = Low pressure Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDII and without intercooler (from 1997)
20 = Low pressure Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDI and without intercooler (from 1997)
21 = Low pressure Turbocharged, non-catalyst and without intercooler (from 1997)
22 = Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDII and intercooler, 400 bhp (from modelyear 1997)
23 = Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDI and intercooler, 400 bhp (from modelyear 1997)
24 = Turbocharged, non-catalyst, with intercooler, 400 bhp (from modelyear 1997)
25 = Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDII and intercooler, 420 bhp (from modelyear 1998)
26 = Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDI and intercooler, 420 bhp (from modelyear 1998)
27 = Turbocharged, non-catalyst, with intercooler, 420 bhp (from modelyear 1998)
28 = Low pressure Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDI and intercooler, 325 bhp (from 1998)
29 = Low pressure Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDII and intercooler, 325 bhp (from 1998)
30 = Low pressure Turbocharged, non-catalyst, with intercooler, 325 bhp (from 1998)
31 = Twin Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDII and intercooler, 400 bhp (from 1998)
32 = Twin Turbocharged, with catalyst, OBDI and intercooler, 400 bhp (from 1998)
33 = Twin Turbocharged, non-catalyst, with intercooler, 400 bhp (from modelyear 1998)
34 = Twin Turbocharged, with catalyst, 450 bhp
35 = -
36 = Twin Turbocharged, non-catalyst, 450 bhp
37 = Twin Turbocharged, with catalyst, 400 bhp
38 = Twin Turbocharged, non-catalyst, 400 bhp
42 = Naturally aspirated, with catalyst (until chassisnumber 20240, 1987)
80 = Naturally aspirated, non-catalyst (Bentley Eight)
Later models with other engines:
50 = 4.4 Liter V8 non-catalyst (from modelyear 1998)
51 = 4.4 Liter V8 with catalyst (from modelyear 1998)
60 = 5.4 Liter V-12 non-catalyst (from modelyear 1998)
61 = 5.4 Liter V-12 with catalyst and OBDII (from modelyear 1998)
62 = 5.4 Liter V-12 with catalyst and EOBD (from modelyear 1998)
|
8 |
Restraint system code (U.S. requirement) |
Corniche, Continental and Camargue:
A = Active seat belts (so with pretensioner)
B = Passive front seat belts (only US)
C = Twin airbags
D = Driver only airbag, for the passengers active seat belts
0 = Until 1987 code for non-American markets.
From 1981 until circa 1990 especially the value A occurs, from 1990 especially the value D but also still the A, from 1994 only the character C occurs. The character B probably is reserved for the Phantom VI. The character C doesn't occur before 1994.
Other models:
Like "Corniche, Continental and Camargue"; besides that:
E = Twin airbags with seatbelt pretensioners
F = Twin airbags with side curtains
|
9 |
Check digit |
A value from 0 to 9 or a X.
This digit is a US requirement and is used to ensure the number is correct and to foil would-be chassisnumber forgers. If the chassisnumber is incorrect a any one digit, the check digit will show this. |
10 |
Model year |
A = 1980 (doesn't occur to the Corniche and Camargue)
B = 1981
C = 1982
D = 1983
E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987 (still occurs to some Camargues)
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995 (the last Corniche IV)
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007 |
11 |
Plant of manufacture |
C = Crewe
W = Willesden, only used for the Phantom VI |
12 |
Position of steering |
H = Right-hand drive (Homemarket)
X = Left-hand drive (eXport) |
13 tm 17 |
Sequential Serial Number |
Sequential identification number, starting with 01001 in 1980. Some numbers are used more than once.
The Corniche III in 1990 got numbers from 30001.
The Corniche IV in 1992 got numbers from 40001.
The Corniche IV in 1994 got numbers from 50001. |
Abbreviated numbers
The chassisnumbers after 1980 are mostly abbreviated. For this two systems are used.
1. In the English oriented system (RREC) the three last characters are used with all five digits behind them. The Continental of the example will be abbreviated with KCX29150. Then the modelyear and the steering position can be read.
2. In the American oriented system (RROC) the fifth, the third and the tenth digit are used followed by the five last digits. The Continental of the example will be abbreviated with DBK 29150. In that case the body type, the marque and the modelyear can be read.
2. Examples
Below you see some examples of chassisnumbers. They are really existing numbers.
SCAYD42A1BCX04012
This is a white Corniche from 1981. From the chassisnumber you can conclude that it deals with a Rolls-Royce (A), that this is a Corniche from the early years of these numberseries (Y is 1980 or 1981), that this is a convertible (D), that it has a type L410 engine with fuel injection (42), that it is from modelyear 1981 (B), that it has been manufactured in Crewe (C) and that it was destined for the export market (X, therefore left-hand drive). Further on it was the 3012th car since the introduction of these numbers (the counting started with 1000).
SCAYJ42A9ECX08726
This is a black Camargue from december 1984. From the chassisnumber you can conclude that it deals with a Rolls-Royce (A), that this is a Camargue (Y), again that this is a Camargue (J), that it has a type L410 engine with fuel injection (42), that it is from modelyear 1984 (D), that it has been manufactured in Crewe (C) and that it was destined for the export market (X, therefore left-hand drive). The sequential number is 08726.
SCAZD02A7KCX25301
This is a white Corniche II from 1989. From the chassisnumber you can conclude that it deals with a Rolls-Royce (A), that this is a Corniche from the years after 1981 (Z), that this is a convertible (D), that it catalyst equipped (02), that it is from modelyear 1989 (K), that it has been manufactured in Crewe (C) and that it was destined for the export market (X, therefore left-hand drive). The sequential number is 25301.
SCAZD0204SCX50142
This is a blue Corniche IV from 1995. From the chassisnumber you can conclude that it deals with a Rolls-Royce (A), that this is a Corniche from the years after 1981 (Z), that this is a convertible (D), that it catalyst equipped (02), that it is from modelyear 1995 (S), that it has been manufactured in Crewe (C) and that it was destined for the export market (X, therefore left-hand drive). The sequential number is 50142.
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