73 MY 914S Build Date Question, ...is it August or Sept 1972?? Options

[Tom_T]

Okay folks,

I've owned my early-73 MY 914-2.0 (914S for Pat G. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), and I looked at the VIN label on the driver's door jamb, but the build date could either be an "8" but missing one of the "punch-dots" in the left side of the lower loop, or a "9" with an "extra dot" (& don't ask about the COA - no help there).

... so which is it ???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I'm also aware of another 73 MY VIN 01102 built 9/72, & another on here VIN 01654 built 8/72 IIRC - & both are earlier VINs than mine - so did they build VINs out of date order?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

My VIN Door Jamb Label:



... and here's my project to restore - finally outside last Sunday before the "monsoon" hit!






... Lotsa work for me to do, to say the least!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[davep]

The original chassis numbers, from start to mid-1974 were stamped into the rear trunk floor after welding up, but before painting. So the chassis number is a record of bodyshop production. The Karmann badge was applied after painting, and errors are known of mismatched chassis number and paint code. The VIN was not added until later as can be seen by the unpainted rectangle on the inner fender where it is stamped; left unpainted so the stamping would not crack the paint. The VIN's and chassis numbers are only synchronous on a large scale, but within a few hundred VIN's they are scattered for the most part. So it seems logical to me that the bodies were painted in batches and probably in chassis # order or close to it. Then the painted bodies were warehoused until required on the final assembly line. To have a body welded, painted and completed on the same day would be incredible. After entering the assembly line I think the chassis number is nearly meaningless. It could have been used for inventory control while waiting in the warehouse. While these numbers are kept in the records for the 911 I have no knowledge of them being kept for the 914. So while the chassis number is a clear production record, I don't think the compliance decal is as good at dating anything. Certainly, the COA will often give the first day of the month as the date of completion, and I believe this to be as suspect as a $7 dollar bill. I tend to take the compliance decal as a guide, not as an absolute. Mind you, all of this is just speculative, and I only have my own observations guiding me on this.

[Tom_T]

The original chassis numbers, from start to mid-1974 were stamped into the rear trunk floor after welding up, but before painting. So the chassis number is a record of bodyshop production. The Karmann badge was applied after painting, and errors are known of mismatched chassis number and paint code. The VIN was not added until later as can be seen by the unpainted rectangle on the inner fender where it is stamped; left unpainted so the stamping would not crack the paint. The VIN's and chassis numbers are only synchronous on a large scale, but within a few hundred VIN's they are scattered for the most part. So it seems logical to me that the bodies were painted in batches and probably in chassis # order or close to it. Then the painted bodies were warehoused until required on the final assembly line. To have a body welded, painted and completed on the same day would be incredible. After entering the assembly line I think the chassis number is nearly meaningless. It could have been used for inventory control while waiting in the warehouse. While these numbers are kept in the records for the 911 I have no knowledge of them being kept for the 914. So while the chassis number is a clear production record, I don't think the compliance decal is as good at dating anything. Certainly, the COA will often give the first day of the month as the date of completion, and I believe this to be as suspect as a $7 dollar bill. I tend to take the compliance decal as a guide, not as an absolute. Mind you, all of this is just speculative, and I only have my own observations guiding me on this.

Dang it!! ... well I guess I'd better take that $7 bill in my pocket - along with the $3 one - & see if they'll gimme a ten!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

I wonder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) if they could've been stamping up a batch of US-DOT VIN Label stickers for a particular month based upon anticipated production levels, then just used them all up until gone - even if the cars were actually completed in the following month ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

That could partially explain the anomolies which you've uncovered Dave. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)