Lord Beckbury

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. Winston Churchill I have now successfully obtained a first registration documentation from the UK's DVLA. After much pressure upon Chrysler/ Jeep de Venezuela they provided a build certificate in English, on their headed notepaper duly stamped and signed. The DVLA processed the fresh application in 2 days, and I am now in the place where I want be be, driving my MJ on the great British roads. I have been supported throughout this process by many great Members of Comanche Club, among your ranks are some truly talented engineers with great vision and wonderful skills. I am indebted to you all.

Sadly no, there is number in the top centre which has been stamped in the firewall, Covered in paint, I shall have to get the grit paper at it for clarity, can't make out the letters/numbers, Trued mucking about with the exposure and saturation, but it's not clear and the paint will have to come off.

In the vain hope that I can eventually date this MJ I have been under the hood and taken a few pic's. If anyone out there can decipher these tags, it might just throw some more light on it's build date.

http://i.imgur.com/wZTB4Ks.png Received this today, won't work unless I get the original in my hand, being collected from Caracas and forwarded to me in the UK, probably via Spain, I expect it around Christmas, keep you posted

There are no plates or numbers that are in view, so before I rip the old gal apart looking for the numbers that might help I want exhaust the other diminishing options, but if there is a definitive location listing for the whereabouts of factory stamped plates especially the covert places that only the DMV guy knows about. I expect all this info is well known to the Moderator Members who may well choose to impart this information outside this forum. No joy with the above links. but thanks anyway.

Could well be, I don't know what to think, looks like the VIN Gods are set against me. However I have got the vendor back on the case, being a Spanish National he might get more results than me. Thank you for your photo and MereAnatomy's contribution and other recent evidence it would seem that quite a number regular pickups had the double cab treatment, Catholic Country, big families nuff said. Rustiaco Caracus seem to have added the tops and done the conversion work with Jeep's approval and no loss of warranty. Maybe Rustiaco conjured this MJ from bits and pieces and it never came off the Carabobo assembly line and stuck this moody VIN plate on to comply with their own sales procedure. That by the way is pure speculation based upon nothing more than a hunch. It seems that the more we dig the more confusing the situation becomes. Getting depresed now, I suppose it could still have an elevate position as a gate guard. https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3506/3459119451_d451118826_z.jpg

Fantastic Guys,I shall tell my MJ he has Roots. Another thread said that Chrysler's Main Dealer Rustiaco Caracas actually made these 4 seaters to accommodate the whole family. Mine has a jump seat between the drivers and front passenger seat for a child.... no seat belt, The facts are emerging and all thanks to you all who have contributed. Pic attached is the actual VIN.. http://i.imgur.com/IRNaboT.jpg

OK I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, I appreciate that the algorithm depends upon the value of the check Digit, which on my VIN is X which has the value of 7 and its is suggested that the check digit is 5, which is E,N or V, I have substituted all these in turn and still no further forward, any more ideas would be most appreciated, John

Welcome to jeepz.com. Looks like our vin decoder is missing some information when it comes to Venezuela VINs (please excuse the french) VIN : 8YFFJ26VXPV077298 Country : Venezuela Manufacturer : Ensambladora Carabobo S.A. Vehicle Type : Export, Right Hand Drive Gross Vehicle Weight : 4001#-5000# [1815/2268 Kg] Line (Body Type) : Cherokee 4x4, Comanche 4x4 Series (Body Type) : Base Body Style : Truck, 2-door Pickup Engine : 4.0L 6 Cyl. Gasoline (MPI) Leaded (ERH) Check Digit : X Year : 1993 Plant Location : Valencia, Venezuela Sequential Serial Number : 077298 Check Digit Test : VIN errone - Check digit devrait etre 5 ​The Jeepz Club have come up with this which certainly helps, there must be an error in the VIN, but that's what I have. Couple of errors the vehicle is LHD not RHD as indicated, could mean Export, These VIN's are an algorithm and this contributor sugested the check digit is wrong maybe we have a mathematician in our ranks who can help.

What we need is a UK based Comanche owner who will be our "expert"

Now settle down Guys, Having an opinion is only natural and being able to express it is healthy. I really appreciate the responses that have come to me from the Colonies, it just shows the the legacy of free speech remains. I did indeed come to the Comanche Club with my problem, and whilst the mystery of it's build date may never be known, be sure I will get it registered in the UK by one means or another, trying the direct route just emphasizes the difficulties that happen with time and language disparities. ​Indeed, I had hope that the VIN number might have been read, or meant something to somebody, but now I really think that this wild child was born out of wedlock has had an unusual start in being, but still deserves it's place in history. It had been hoped that the correct information had been forthcoming, but when you realize that Fiat now call Chrysler Jeeps tune and the 21 year passage of time it is not really surprising that such information is not readily forthcoming. I had hope not to be ripping up carpets and removing door cards looking for pieces of stamped tin or bits of paper, but looks like this is the last remaining option. Once again love it or hate thanks for your efforts and if there is some aged Venezuelan assembly worker who remembers "the Beast" being constructed at Carabobo Valencia Plant just let me know.. Thanks Guys. I'll keep you posted to what happens in the fullness of time..... John

<a class="zoom" title="" href="http://i.imgur.com/5aDQo1N.png"><img alt="" src="//i.imgur.com/5aDQo1N.png"></a> Above is a link to the rejection from the UK's DVLA, Miserable Welsh bastards (The DVLA office is in Swansea, Wales)

The vehicle was definitely built at Jeep's Carabobo Plant in Valencia, Venezuela, some time in 1992, although the 10th letter P indicates 1993. VIN 8YFFJ26VXPV077298 Region 1st letter 8 is South Amenica Country 1-2 8Y Venezuela Manufacturor 2-3 Y8 Unknown Model specific 4-8 FJ26V Unknown Check digit 9 X Invalid Year 10 P 1993 (Interesting 'cos no MJ's were made in 1993) Assembly Plant 11 V Valencia? Serial No 12-17 077298 This VIN info was gleaned AnalogX VIN View web pages, and this is as far as I've got. Other VIN tracing websites seem to come up with less. Currently I am trying the get confirmation of any build year out of Chrysler Venezuela and have got the assistance of the Vendor a Spanish National who is on the case too.I have lots of documentation which suggests that the built date was in 1992, but the Brit DVLA require a document on Chrysler's headed business paper stating the precise date when this contraption was created. and in English too. No scanned or photo copies allowed. One theory is that was just a design exercise perhaps by apprentices or trainee designers, then as the MJ line had been pulled they lost interest and the vehicle was eventually sold to Sr. Obanos in September 1993 as a "new" old stock vehicle by the Chrysler main dealer in Caracas, Rustiacos. Rustiacos to date have not responded, but now Sr. Obanos is on the case we should at least have a re-issue of the original sale docs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to solving this mystery. I am sure that all will be revealed in the fullness of time

Been in the Man Cave to take the interior pictures as requested. The rear canopy is fibreglass and it would appear that the front of the tub has been cut and welded back in just prior to the wheel arches, The height of the rear floor also matches the finished tub floor. I have attached as many random pics to give you an idea how they constructed it, Surely there must be someone out there that can contribute to our understanding of this project vehicles's life. Would be good to know. Incidentally the raer tub has been LineX'ed The "arm rest" between the front two seats is actually a jump seat for a small person, no seat belt. Check out the pics here...http://imgur.com/a/3JL4h#iOVNGN2

Well Guys, I can see why you don't like it, but it had to be saved for posterity. Look at the problem from Jeep's point of view. The MJ as a 2wd or 4 wd truck was not too popular in the World outside the US, When the Japs came up with a crew cab and King Cab versions of their trucks. Opening a new option for the user who wanted a family friendly pick up. Having given the design boys at Carabobo a task this was the best that they could come up with, perhaps firing the decision to axe the MJ line in favour of the Dodge Laredo. I will take some interior pics and upload soon, As you have gathered I am having a problem getting an actual build date for the truck,seems to be important to the British DVLA, they want a manufacturers declaration, on their headed notepaper and in English, or failing that a declaration from a recognized Owners Club, just like the Comanche Club. That's why I am appealing to any Member who can help me accomplish this task