2014 FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR VIN 1FTFW1R62EFB13779

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor described here left the factory in 2014. The gearbox is automatic, with four-wheel drive. Power comes from a 6.2-litre petrol engine with eight cylinders.

At the time of recording, the car had covered 230,255 miles. A clock converted from miles to kilometres should be documented, since the swap can hide the true mileage. High mileage alone does not rule a car out; what matters is whether regular servicing kept pace with it. A single figure proves little: what makes a mileage believable is a series of readings that rise steadily over the years. Service invoices and inspection reports each carry a mileage figure, and lined up in order they show whether the clock tells the truth.

No damage entry is on file for this car. Signs of an old repair – uneven panel gaps, overspray, a slight mismatch in paint – can still turn up at an inspection.

The car is recorded as running and driving. A key is on file for the car. A condition note describes the car at one moment; months of standing or later work on the car can change the picture in either direction.

Title status in the record: clean. With a clean title the car can be registered and insured in the usual way.

A car’s history is the sum of what has happened to it since it was new, and most of it has left a trace on paper somewhere. No single office holds the whole story of a car: registries, workshops, insurance companies and lenders each keep their own part. A clean, polished car can still hide a serious accident, a flood or years of hard use.

Regular oil changes and timely work on the timing belt or chain decide how well an engine copes with age. On a petrol engine, a rough idle, misfires or a warning light on the dashboard need looking into. The automatic gearbox should respond smoothly and without delay; jerks, slipping or hesitation on a test drive need investigating. With four-wheel drive, mismatched tyres can strain the centre differential or coupling, so all four should be the same make and similarly worn.

Every modern car carries a 17-character VIN, its identity for life, and no two cars share one. For this car, the VIN is 1FTFW1R62EFB13779. A VIN that differs between the documents and the car, or shows signs of tampering, is reason enough to walk away.

Depending on what is on file, a VIN report may include past registrations, mileage readings, damage entries, branded titles and theft checks. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. Before any decision, check what is known about VIN 1FTFW1R62EFB13779.