Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: erwindv Oct 24 2016, 02:18 AM

Strange, but perhaps not unusual: VINnr. 4712901931 but already delivered November 1970.

What could be the reason?

Posted by: Tom_T Oct 24 2016, 06:59 AM

The automotive "Model Year" (MY) is different from the calendar year.

1971 MY would've run from August 1970 to July 1971, & similarly for other MYs.

So the delivery date would be shortly after that - earlier in Germany (West G. back then) & Europe, & later in the USA & other overseas locations to account for shipping.

My own 73 2.0 was built on 8/31/72 & first registered in California on 11/6/72.

I would guess that you'll find an August or September 1970 build date, if you translate your 914's Chassis Number, which is on the Karmann Plate on the left/driver side front door jamb & stamped in the floor of the rear trunk near the rear wall.

Chassis Nr. Decoder:



9(X) would usually be 95 for Karmann Plant, with 96 or 97 adding 100 or 200 to the number produced that day of the following XXX sequence (i.e.: 95 + 1 or 95 + 2).

Cheers!
Tom
///////

Posted by: erwindv Oct 24 2016, 09:59 AM

QUOTE(Tom_T @ Oct 24 2016, 02:59 PM)

The automotive "Model Year" (MY) is different from the calendar year.

1971 MY would've run from August 1970 to July 1971, & similarly for other MYs.

So the delivery date would be shortly after that - earlier in Germany (West G. back then) & Europe, & later in the USA & other overseas locations to account for shipping.

My own 73 2.0 was built on 8/31/72 & first registered in California on 11/6/72.

I would guess that you'll find an August or September 1970 build date, if you translate your 914's Chassis Number, which is on the Karmann Plate on the left/driver side front door jamb & stamped in the floor of the rear trunk near the rear wall.

Chassis Nr. Decoder:



9(X) would usually be 95 for Karmann Plant, with 96 or 97 adding 100 or 200 to the number produced that day of the following XXX sequence (i.e.: 95 + 1 or 95 + 2).

Cheers!
Tom
///////

Posted by: flat4guy Oct 27 2016, 09:18 PM

Good info, thanks for posting. Mine makes sense as the week of NR and month code on vin tag match. whew....
Just curious, how many cars a day did they produce on average?

Posted by: SKL1 Oct 30 2016, 08:26 PM

My MY '71 was delivered on 11/11/70 and made in 9/70. I don't believe it is that unusual to have a MY car from the previous calendar year.