VW Badge location & body numbers, Challenge to determine beginning & end Options

[davep]

I require help with my research.
Typically, the VW badge was riveted to the right headlight bucket up to the end of 1974 and made its way to the right upper corner of the fuel tank bulkhead in 1975. Also, the body number was originally stamped into the rear trunk floor and made its was to a black riveted tag on the support below the right headlight bucket, as well as being found on the Karmann badge. At some point the body number base changed from xxy95zz to xxy90zz.

I require everyone to help with changeover VIN, and body number for each of the changes. Please add paint code and date code from the compliance decal as well.

[davep]

It would appear then that the 914 shared the Karmann line with Beetles, and the Karmann build # could be for either model. What we need to do then is to gather more examples of the Karmann tag numbers, VIN, DOT labels and paint codes and see how they fit. My guess is that they mesh.

[wonkipop]

It would appear then that the 914 shared the Karmann line with Beetles, and the Karmann build # could be for either model. What we need to do then is to gather more examples of the Karmann tag numbers, VIN, DOT labels and paint codes and see how they fit. My guess is that they mesh.

yes, i think your suggestion of sharing the line with beetle cabriolets in late 74 for 75 MY could be the reason.

you can find all those factory photos showing that kgs and vw cabs came down the line together in earlier years.

in the 60s it looked karmann put three types through all mixed togehter inclluding type 3 ghias.

what photos there are of 914 production seem to show them having their own separate production line. photos i mention probably at an early period of the model life?

the production figures from 73 to 75 tell an interesting story.
hard to know if figures around are MY figures or calendar year, but the general indications tell enough.
all three models go into serious decline. kg stops in 74 MY.
for 75 there is only 7925 914s (def cal year number) and 5,327 vw cabs.
914 numbers half of 74 and cab numbers similar halving.

a smart company would have rationalised the lines and space in the factory.

need more historic info on what karmann did in terms of their factory after mid 74,
but probably either shifted cabs over to section where they made 914s or vise versa and started setting up new production line for the water cooled vw scirroco?

whatever is going on that @MCShack has picked up on is after summer break of 74 and the end of kg production.

info i came across said 500,000 scirocco mk 1 s made from 74 to 81.
= av 70,000 per year.
seriously more production volume than any previous karmann vw model.
about 3 to 4 times best 914 numbers or cab numbers.
think best vw cab numbers were 18,000. less than best 914 numbers.
would have needed a good amount of factory space and probably two shifts a day maybe to pump out the sciroccos? big changes at factory.

definitely the reason for ending 914 production at end of 75 calendar year was expanding the production line to gear up for scirocco production for USA market which came after introduction in europe for 75 MY, 74 calendar year.

folks talk of 924 as successor to 914. only if you take a USA/porsche perspective.
in europe makes more sense to see the scirocco as the 914 successor?

sciroccos early on used same seven digit PKN number (referred to here as karmann body number) system as beetles 914s etc. with a particular 5th digit assigned to them?