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[Wittsend]

Well, well, well ...

Just sanded off the bonnet catch plate on the Panda camper (1969) to reveal "741"
Can't confirm if that is the original key number as I never had the original key and I have now fitted a new set of 3 door locks that all work off the same key.

The LWTs have a slightly different style of plate and I can't see anything there.

Looks like our original poster has "discovered" something new about series Land Rovers 

[Dentman]

Do we have something like the No Belly prize for such ground breaking research 

[jkhackney]

I cleaned up two of these yesterday and I've found no number so far?

I feel like someone's trying to trick me into looking silly, like those kaleidescopes kids would bring to school with black grease makeup concealed around the eye hole, giving the unwary (tricked) kid a black ring around his eye that only he couldn't see ...

[Calum]

It's okay Jeremy I can't find any stampings on the striker on the Carawagon either. Annoying as I know I have the original keys for it so hopefully they should have matched!

[Craig T]

Got you all looking now..... 

It is intriguing isn't it. I think I have some more bonnet catches left over somewhere in the garage so will go looking at the weekend for more numbers.

I accept the No belly prize with the greatest honour.... 

Craig.

[Avalon]

Being the inquisitive *&%^$ I am, I had to look on my rovers as well. They are LHD imported into Canada.
One is a 60 pu which has the number 16 stamped on in the upper left corner.
My other is a 61 station wagon and it is number 46.
Both are 88's.
Good thing it was raining today as I would have wasted an hour doing nothing or some other useless task.

Cheers
John

[andyjb]

I looked at mine today and its 703 doesnt match the number on the door key though.

[guysattley]

Perhaps this will help.   The attached photo shows the original door key of my old ‘64  88” snow plowing rig.    Brand “ZENI” on front, with stamped “N20”,  and on reverse, “British Make”.  (Not British Made...).

Stamped on the Bonnet Catch Plate is “20”.    I find it interesting that the only mention above of two digit key numbers, came from Canada.      This 88 was first owned locally here in Fairbanks by the Dodge dealer, used for plowing his lot.    So it’s never been out of Alaska.

I’ve never seen the three-digit number stamped.   Makes me recall the days (of British innocence) when
one could, with FPxxx or FSxxx, walk into a merchant and find the proper key hanging on a hook.
(So of course, anyone with access to your dash, could for minimal outlay have an ignition key.)

The stamped bonnet plate was mentioned (somewhere) in Service News letter, many years ago.

Let’s see if my posting skills exist.   Guy

[100+9]

Jeez I'm tragic. You've actually got me out there to look! Oh dear. Worst of all, I'm disappointed I've not got one.

[rosinante]

My 59 doesn't have one and yes I'm sad enough to have looked at 10 48 pm
Chtis

[Matt Reeves]

I thought this was well known   IIRC it's mentioned in the service bulletins that the key number would be stamped into the striker plate and was introduced in around 1965. I'll have a look later....

[Bradfordseries2]

As above, the info is on the series 2 timeline as well.

[Dentman]

I thought this was well known   IIRC it's mentioned in the service bulletins that the key number would be stamped into the striker plate and was introduced in around 1965. I'll have a look later....

Many Land Rovers can be opened with a strong breeze, but it's surprising that key number is freely accessible from the outside 
My Morris Minor had the number on the ignition barrel, but that at least needed access to the interior.

[Craig T]

Good to see people are still looking at their bonnet catch plates.

I wasn't aware of the stamping hence why I only noticed it when the keys were lying next to the plate under the bonnet. At least it's another bit or originality on my Land Rover.   

Craig.