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Indian VIN's?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:30 pm
by Avantone
Hi,
I've just picked up a SIL GP150 frame with the country prefix of "00" (*22/0*00*......)
From what I understood, the "00" country prefix wasn't used ................ or was it?
Can anyone enlighten me?
(Searched the web and posted on LCGB but still not sure)
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:04 pm
by eibargum
Snap, ive got one as well, made some inquirys and nobodys 100% sure, if you ask 10 people you,ll get 10 ansers. mine, according to the reg docs is an alwyn pushpak, but theres no sign of it ever being one and it had been italianized before i bought it. Mine hasent got the tubes on the subframe were the stand hook bolts go

, a local guy that restores lammys told me it may be one of the italian frames that were sent to india when the milan factory wound up, ill make some inquirys on the LCGB site about that one. has yours got the tubes on the subframe, regards.
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:27 pm
by drunkmunkey6969
the country code doesnt denote what sort of scooter it is...only the country that the frame was destined for after production.
00 was used....mine is 00:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=019
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:37 pm
by Avantone
Agreed, but all the stuff I've found so far says that 00 wasn't used. My one is definately a SIL scooter as it's still got the plate riveted on below the toolbox door.
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:52 am
by CANbus
Avantone wrote:
Agreed, but all the stuff I've found so far says that 00 wasn't used. My one is definately a SIL scooter as it's still got the plate riveted on below the toolbox door.
Would someone supply a photo of this plate please, anymore tell tale signs to look for?
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:03 am
by Avantone
CANbus wrote:Avantone wrote:
Agreed, but all the stuff I've found so far says that 00 wasn't used. My one is definately a SIL scooter as it's still got the plate riveted on below the toolbox door.
Would someone supply a photo of this plate please, anymore tell tale signs to look for?
Sorry, the "plate" I mentioned, is just a small aluminum makes plate detailing the manufacturer along with the VIN and engine numbers, which is riveted on the frame loop beneath the toolbox door and confirms the manufacturer as SIL.
It's the "tubes" I'm not sure about where the stand attaches - I'll go and check later.
Mine is supposed to be an early one so I'm wondering if the "00" was used prior to the naming convention for the country being exported to was agreed

Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:51 am
by eibargum
I was told last night by a club member that the early indians didnt have the tubes fitted untill 1978, there seems to be a mystery surrounding the 00 on the frame, ive been told it may have been bought in india to either repair a bike or to build a bike from new that was intended to stay in india, ive also heard a dozen other ideas, what does come accross is that there fairly rare and abit of a mystery. regards.
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:57 am
by Avantone
eibargum wrote:I was told last night by a club member that the early indians didnt have the tubes fitted untill 1978, there seems to be a mystery surrounding the 00 on the frame, ive been told it may have been bought in india to either repair a bike or to build a bike from new that was intended to stay in india, ive also heard a dozen other ideas, what does come accross is that there fairly rare and abit of a mystery. regards.
OK, I'll being taking "fairly rare" as
fairly valuable, and will be listing my hulk of Indian rust on eBay for £10,000
Please PM direct if anyones after capturing a unique piece of scooter history

(Be quick to avoid disappointment!)
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:28 am
by drunkmunkey6969
Avantone wrote:
OK, I'll being taking "fairly rare" as
fairly valuable, and will be listing my hulk of Indian rust on eBay for £10,000
Please PM direct if anyones after capturing a unique piece of scooter history

(Be quick to avoid disappointment!)
Mines original and complete!! £20k!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=019
Re: Indian VIN's?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:50 pm
by Avantone
This was the answer off the LCGB forum
The LCGB Forum wrote:Well the prefix 00 wasn't used to indicate a place for shipping. We can only assume why they were stamped 00. Possibly for spares, replacements, local use, testing, design?
My guess is a few were made with this number and set aside as replacements for dealer stock. But that isn't gospel.