Zagato chassis/serial number trouble

[BetaZagato]

Hi all,

I have a question about the chassis or serial number of the good old USA Zagatos.
A little car history first : 2 years ago I bought a 1981 USA version spider Zagato, fuel injection.
The guy I bought it from here in Belgium, had it imported from the Netherlands.
The history of the car indicates that it has been brought from the USA to the Netherlands around 1992.

Now, to be able to drive this car in Belgium a yearly 'MOT' is necessary.
It has already been checked and approved for the last couple of years ... until last week.
Suddenly they have a problem with the chassis number of the car and say it is 'probably falsified' ????
The guy that took my car to the MOT drove it straight to the FIAT office in Brussels to have it checked by a homologation's guy.
He couldn't trace back the chassis number either and said that he had never seen such a number.
My Zag is ZLAFS00C8B0202181 and is on all the papers I have of our Ministry of Traffic.
It also shows on the little tag behind the windscreen.

I've already seen some chassis numbers on the net (http://www.viva-lancia.com/beta/index.html) and they look pretty much like mine.
The homologation guy had problems with the 'FS00' part of the serial and said it should be '828'.
Seeing these numbers on the net, he must be wrong and probably doesn't know the history of the cars meant for outside of Europe.
Now I need to find a way to convince these guys that my chassis number is indeed correct and legal.

Unless you also think that there's something wrong with it.
Does someone know the history about these numbers or how I can get prove that these numbers are correct ?
Did Fiat/Lancia use 'FSxxx' for other models exported to the USA ?

Until then, my zag needs to stay off the road - what a shame !

Thanks,
Michael.

[1,6 HF]

Michael,

Your number is correct: 1981 USA Lancia Betas did NOT have 828 in their VINs. The early US Betas were indeed "828" serial numbers, "828" being Lancia's designation for the Beta chassis. But by 1981, all manufacturers were required to use the standardized codes, rather than their own chassis numbers.

I haven't owned the car since 1996, but my 1981 Coupe VIN was:
ZLAEC00C5B0612722

If memory serves, I believes this translates:
Z = Italy
LA = Lancia
EC00 = Beta Coupe
C8 = exterior color
B (or B0?) = interior color

If you think it will help, e-mail me your contact info, and I'll send you a scan of my old California title.

[Jim Keller]

Yea, your number is probably fine, if you look just above or behind the fuse box, most of the numbers are stamped into the firewall sheet metal as well, Door jamb tag, window vin and there on the firewall are the only places they put the numbers. The fire walll one the only one that is stamped and not attached with pop rivets

My 81 Coupe's vin is almost exactly the same vin as previously mentioned except the color code and the last 3 didgets, my Coupe's white

I don't know what to tell you on how to handle your MOT as even here in the states, requirements vary from state to state and county to county. In the state and county I live in, all I have to do is have them look at the windshield vin tag and door tag, as long as those match, I get my tags, no inspections for emissions or safety, car doesn't even have to be drivable and all I do is sign a paper "saying" I have insurance, I don't have to prove it! It cost's a mere $3.50 for the inspection and takes about 5 min chit chatting with the happy BMV worker who gets to go outside and check your number, they love getting away from the counter work so they are always happy to do it here! LOL

[BetaZagato]

Thanks for the reactions !

On my car, the number is not on the firewall as indicated in the manual, but on the metal where the front right suspension is attached.
The oldest records I have of the car is a paper of the Dutch administration of 1992, stating this VIN and the place where it is stamped. Even the door tag is still there and corresponds with the serial number.
Last week's check has probably been done by a guy who didn't have his morning coffee the way he wanted it and someone had to suffer for it :-(
Unfortunatelly, my car was at the wrong place at the wrong time ...
Hopefully a couple of phone calls and faxes to our Traffic department will clear things out since they approved this car and its serial number a couple of years ago.

In Belgium, once your car is 4 years, you need to go to the yearly MOT. So my 27 year old Zagato is checked the same way as a 4 year old car. Suspension, breaks, steering, emissions, safety belts, lights, indicators, the whole stuff ... for as much as 25 euro ($35). It definatelly has to be drivable as they drive it themselves through their checkup line. They even complain and put it on the report if there are drips of oil on the bottom of the engine :-)

Michael.

[rossocorsa]

european betas never had chassis numbers like that but i can't see what there should be an issue with it as it is a non- euro spec car maybe you can obtain information from lancia in turin? there is a very helpful guy at fiat in the UK but i doubt that they could help with a dispute in belgium!