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built 9/72, & another on here VIN 01654 built 8/72 IIRC - & both are earlier VINs than mine - so did they build VINs out of date order??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]

Tom, sorry I'm late to the party, and thanks for the PM.
Yours is definitely an 08/72 build. There does seem to be an anomalous number of 09/72 dates on the compliance decals prior to your car; from 1017 to 1400 I have a string of 09/72. I know that in the 1960's the 911's were not completed in VIN order, but I was not aware that the 914 was built out of order. The early 1973 seems to be the only time that the compliance decal dates were out of order month-wise. The also seems to be some interesting things occurring in the chassis numbers.

[Tom_T]

Tom, sorry I'm late to the party, and thanks for the PM.
Yours is definitely an 08/72 build. There does seem to be an anomalous number of 09/72 dates on the compliance decals prior to your car; from 1017 to 1400 I have a string of 09/72. I know that in the 1960's the 911's were not completed in VIN order, but I was not aware that the 914 was built out of order. The early 1973 seems to be the only time that the compliance decal dates were out of order month-wise. The also seems to be some interesting things occurring in the chassis numbers.

Thanx Dave & to Sixerdon for reminding me of the chassis dating methodology!

ALL - the continuing oddity with my 73 914S - is that it has a 8/72 build date as decided above, with a date code chassis number which places it at the 4th day of the 36th week of 1972 & #45 built on that day.

However, in looking at the 1972 calendar - that placed it as the Chassis Built on 8/31/72 - the last day of the month - with the VIN door sticker as the same month 8/72! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Geez Louise!!! - either those Germans were really fast at trucking/rail the shell from the Karmann plant to VW's 914 final assembly facility - & then completely assembling the car on the SAME DAY!

... or they used the chassis number production date for the build date on the door label !!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

And just to quell any speculation that it's a Franken-teen Chassis - the trunk number below (although unclear with the paint over it) & Karmann door plate appear to match numbers - as both appear to be 3649545:




.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Any thoughts from the Gurus & 914 History Buffs out there???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[SirAndy]

Geez Louise!!! - either those Germans were really fast at trucking/rail the shell from the Karmann plant to VW's 914 final assembly facility - & then completely assembling the car on the SAME DAY!

Actually, the 914s were not shipped to any VW facility for final assembly.

All 914-4 cars were fully assembled at Karmann!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy


Here you go, this is the lot at Karmann that i mentioned earlier. As you can see, the cars left Karmann fully assembled ...

[Tom_T]

Geez Louise!!! - either those Germans were really fast at trucking/rail the shell from the Karmann plant to VW's 914 final assembly facility - & then completely assembling the car on the SAME DAY!

Actually, the 914s were not shipped to any VW facility for final assembly.

All 914-4 cars were fully assembled at Karmann!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy


Here you go, this is the lot at Karmann that i mentioned earlier. As you can see, the cars left Karmann fully assembled ...

Andy,

I thought that VW Werk was in someplace like Osnabruck (sp??) where they installed the suspension, engine, transaxle, interior, etc.??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Did I misunderstand, was misinformed or something??

So from what you're saying, then a date stamp for 8/72 & a Chassis No. for 8/31/72 would be consistent if they were built then both applied on the same day as it was completed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

BTW - the "missing dot" on the 8 appeared when I cleaned all the labels, stickers & stampings - all of which match-up. I also discovered that there was a 4th repaint of my 914 between the original L80E & the Gold/Bronze when I bought it in 12/75. You can see bits of it - Sahara Beige - around some of these pix below. I guess they wanted to be like Sahara Steve! .... oh wait, he had a different 914-2.0 back in 73-75! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)





... continued ....