I assume 1999 Drifters were sold in the UK in 1999... is that correct?
2014 is the 16th model year for Drifters - of course they did stop making them in 2006. (or 15th Anniversary year.)
I read some place that the 1999 Drifter 800's went everywhere but the US market because it was deemed too small an engine for the US market. Not sure of the 1500.
My drifter is a 1999 VN1500 J1 model, from the VIN number it was made in Japan around the middle of 2000 and sold new in the UK on 3rd July 2001.
That doesn't prove anything one way or another but maybe someone else has an earlier one..
John.