VIN & build date anomilies, why the inconsistency? Options

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

Looking at the 914 Info data, I happened to notice some strange irregularities.
The VIN and build date information do not corrolate in all cases. Is this an owner mis-reading the build date, or a factory anomaly? If the later, why? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Examples:

4702901002 12/69
4702901050 01/70
4702901066 12/69
4702901121 12/69
4702901140 01/70
4702901162 12/69
4702901654 12/69
4702901815 12/69
4702901984 03/70 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
4702902094 01/70
4702902365 01/70
4702902543 01/70
4702902612 01/70
4702902844 11/69 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
4702903114 01/70

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

Let us assume that the Karmann factory manufactured, assembled, and installed, engraved or otherwise affixed the VIN information on the 914 as they we being built.

Regardless of chassis #, at the appropriate assembly point, Hans made certain that the VIN plates were on the car in the correct places and pretty much in sequence. After the car was finished on the line, Werner verified the VIN, and printed out a vinyl build sticker to be permanently fastened to the door jamb.

Now pretend that VIN 4702901984 doesn't pass quality control for some reason. It is put aside because of bad paint, interior mis-match, crappy shift linkage, etc. When the paint shop or upholstery men or the mechanics finally straighten things out, the car goes through quality control once more, then to Werner who then checks and verifies the VIN, looks at his Heuer for the date, and prints out the VIN and build date sticker and puts it on the car. Now we have a 914 with an out-of-sequence VIN and a build date that very well might be into next month.

In the case where a VIN and build date preceed others (#1140 for instance), all the 1969 build dates had some QC issues that needed fixing after all the VIN numbers and build date sticker had been applied.

Paul