Hi, I’m trying to find out when my mk1 import was made. The VIN number is NA8C-301782
The DVLA seem to think it’s December 1995 but I believe this is a default for " unknown 1995 "
I’ve done as much searching on the web as I can, but entering the VIN number in all the sites I’ve tried, which includes the ones recommended on this forum, just come back with invalid, or not enough digits. I’ve even tried going up and down the last few digits to see if anything comes up but no joy.
i seem to remember reading that Mazda will provide the information but they charge for this, so before I go down that road, I thought I would ask, as I know there are some clever people on this forum.
Hi Dave, snap I have been trying the same thing with mine only to hit the same brickwalls
Mine is about 2000 further on than yours and again DVLA think it is Dec 1995 despite mine being an M reg. According to the spreadsheet on here mine was built Jan 95 yet I have a couple of old MOT that state year of manufacture as 94.
Interestingly someone suggested checking the seat belt label and both mine state 1994.
Good luck with your search, I will follow with interest.
The spreadsheet is something I made many years ago, before these websites appeared. It is based on actual Roadster registration dates not build dates. The danger about depending on the seatbelt labels is that its possible for them to be swapped out for scrapyard parts, and that Mazda didn’t actually make the belts. They were made by a contractor and then went into a parts bin on the production line. Your car will will be a late 94-early 95 registration.
I went through this issue with the DVLA back in 2005. In 2003, I relocated from Northern Ireland to GB, and brought over my 1991 Roadster, reregistered it here, and retained it on the NI plate (SAZ9961). Come 2005, I sold the car, but wanted to retain the plate. The DVLA issued a H-plate, when it should have been a J-plate. New owner wasn’t happy because he felt this would devalue his new-to-him 150k miler 14 year old Roadster with no dealer service history (?). This was despite the DVLNI correctly recording on the log book the correct month of registration. DVLA demanded official declaration from Mazda before budging. I contacted the DVLNI, who retain, forever, all details of imports that pass through their hands, hoping they had copies of the original Japanese registration documents, and that maybe two parts of the UK government could talk to each other. They had the documents, but would not give me a copy, nor would they contact the DVLA. What they did though was provide me an official transcription of what they had, which I could pass on to the DVLA. That was accepted, and a new plate issued (and another story there, in that 6 months later, the new owner couldn’t get the tax renewed, because the DVLA hadn’t properly released the new plate…).
The point is, you might find your car on a website, or someone might be able to figure it out for you (these websites are based on mining auction data, which is incomplete). But none of that will matter to the DVLA. You need to pay Mazda to find out.
Figuring out your car: Because your car is NA8C-3*, its a series 1.5 car. I know that NA8C-305831 was built on the 24th February 1995 (see: http://www.autotraderjapan.com/index.php/auction-access/vin-decoder.html). So you car was built 4049 units earlier. Roadster month by month sales in Japan are listed here:
Ok, so sales doesn’t exactly match manufacture date; I expect at least a 2 week gap between the car being registered and leaving the factory gate. And I have a feeling in Japan, registration is done by the owner, as in the US. From this, its very simple to come up with an estimated month/year. 792 Roadsters were sold in Feb 1995. Count back, and you can determine, in all likelyhood, your car was built in August 1994. You could probably do a bit of modelling, and even come up with the week, plus minus 2 weeks. Of course, for the DVLA, that will mean nothing, so you need to pay Mazda, or just live with it.
Hi saz9961, don’t know what has happened to the OP but I have found your comments most helpful, I think.
The site you linked to certainly works for your VIN but as far as I can see anything 303*** just gives ‘incorrect chassis’.
However if yours was built Feb 95 then using your other link mine would count back 2299 which makes it mid November 94 which would tally with the seat belts I originally spoke about and the M registration it was given on import.
But, your spread sheet implies Jan 95 and as it is a G-Ltd which if I understand correctly were built from Jan 95 to July 95 this would be correct. So still confused
At the end of the day exact build date is not that important, my main concern is that my MOT station has changed ownership and whilst the past owner was sympathetic to older cars I am now on uncertain ground regarding emissions etc. As I am sure you are aware technically my G-Ltd is Cat exempt but proving it to new management may be problematic for although it is M reg the DVLA MOT check website states Dec 95 as date of first use as per OP.
Hi Saz, thanks very much for your comprehensive and informative reply. I think mine was originally imported into Northern Ireland judging by the reg number.
Any idea how much Mazda charge for the information?
Thanks again.
Dave
Just to repeat, the spreadsheet is based on registration dates, not build dates. The bulk of the data was provided by Autolinkuk, and then after it was just modeled out. But its been years since I looked at it. At the time, it was done as a best effort.
The VIN provided does not relate to either of my MX5s. It is just an example.
Whether a G-Limited technically needs a catalytic converter for me is irrelevant. It morally needs a cat converter. Replacement cats are cheap, and not much more money than a bit of pipe. And the car runs better with one on.
£50 is what I have heard for a letter. If a NI import, the V5 may show the incorrect import date. My 91 was imported into NI in 97, exported to GB in 2003, but the log book showed GB import in 2000. Why 2000, I have no idea.
If you think it was first registered in NI, you can write/email Coleraine. They were very responsive, unlike the DVLA.
Sorry what I should have said was CAT test exempt, as far as moral issues go this is probably why I fitted a new stainless steel exhaust, stainless CAT and Lambda sensor last year.
I’ve just got back after a week away and have been looking at the label on the seat belts. I can’t see anything that appears to have any reference to a manufacturing date. There’s made in Japan and who made them but no sign of a date. Am I missing something?
Thanks.
I have got an excel spread sheet with chassis numbers matched to months, but not exact days. can’t remember where I got it from now, but if any use to you, private message me your email and I will send a copy.
There used to be a link on this site that gave some information, but the link no longer works for some reason. maybe lost when sites have been updated.
