First Registered Model Year, Introduction Of The 914 Options

[AlanG]

There's always been great debate about when the 50th anniversary of the 914 is/was and a lot of it hinges on when the 914 first came into being.

My question is, does anyone have a 914-4 with a VIN that starts "469" and/or were there any 914s (with the possible exception of the 2 914-8s) that were registered as 1969 model years?

Just curious.

[wonkipop]

if vin # method and the karmann # method are to go by.
69 would have a karmann # indicating 69 build?
but a vin # showing 70 model year but vin sticker with a separate build date of month/year? vin # identified model year not manufacture year in number sequence. i don't think euro market cars had a door jamb vin sticker. only us cars.
so 69 will not show up in the vin number.

there is another pre production/prototype 6 that ended up on the road in the USA.
some guys would know more stuff in detail about that one.
be interesting how that was put on the road, was it a 69 model year for reg purposes?

i understand that MY spanning from start of autumn (aug or sept) of year before to start of summer break (start of july) of model year originated in the USA and became a northern hemisphere convention. i think the germans went off the us convention for domestic sales at that time. but i could be wrong. the whole idea was you got your 70 model car in the autumn of 1969. it might have been 69 but you were driving the 70 model car.

summer workers vacation a good time to gear up production line for new model year while the plant is semi-shut down.

in aus = southern hemisphere, summer is dec, jan, feb. summer break closedown was in jan. model years for local manufacture cars when manufacturing was still done here, meant MY = build year for an aussie brand car. was not as confusing to car buyers.

always like the 69 date as its the same as for moon landing.
i remember i bought mine in 89 when the 914 was having a 20th (fairly muted affair only recognised by 914 fans) and so was apollo (much more rejoicing).