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built 9/72, & another on here VIN 01654 built 8/72 IIRC - & both are earlier VINs than mine - so did they build VINs out of date order??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

[Tom_T]

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Okay, I finally found the old Samba FS listing & the seller's linked Picasa Web pix for VIN 4732901102 at the links below:

file:///C:/Users/Tom%20T/Documents/Auto/914/-%20914s%204sale/-%20914%20Comps%204sale/73%20914-2L%20$14000%20obo%20org-blk%20102k%20mi%20gd%20cond%20Portland%20OR%20-%20Samba-com%232-25-09.htm

> Note that in the above ad, the seller references GA000336 for the engine code (like I've said before - half-zymenrs" means I remember half the stuff half the time, & I got that one right! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), & stated that he didn't have any receipt for the partial body work/repaint - which is in fact included on the $4800+ receipt in the pic #77 at the pix link below (see middle right hand side) ....

http://picasaweb.google.com/uplife66/914FromCoereDalane#
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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This is NOT a completely unmolested 914, as evidenced by the work invoice at the last of the 77 pix at the link above, but it appeared close enough for me to use as a "model early-73 914S / 914-2.0" for my resto, along with SMG Saharah Steve's 73 2L (which is a much later 73 build date).

FYI Y'all - Here is 01102's Chassis plate #3539559 for a build date the week & a day prior to mine - so they were probably neighbors on both the Karmann & VW final assembly lines - despite the VIN stickers' respective Build Dates of 9/72 for this one & 8/72 for mine! Who knows - maybe mine was in front of the line at VW ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
- only adding to the mystery! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Karmann Plate, Front Trunk VIN Plate & Body Stamp for VIN 4732901102:
> Note that the Door VIN & 9/72 Build Date Sticker was previously posted above.





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If the weather is good tomorrow, I'll try to shoot pix of my air cleaner box & it's part no. - to compare to this one's box/p-n, because they're similar but slightly different. I'm curious if it's any different as a superceded part or not, since they're both "diamond-pattern" stampings on the time, but mine has 3+/- crossbars too, whereas the later 73 MY air boxes like Sahara Beige at the O&H "The Few, the rare..." topic have only cross-bars (& later in late-74 or 75 MY they were smooth topped).

Enjoy those Pix at the link above - I did !!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.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)
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[Tom_T]

This is NOT a completely unmolested 914, as evidenced by the work invoice at the last of the 77 pix at the link above, but it appeared close enough for me to use as a "model early-73 914S / 914-2.0" for my resto, along with SMG Saharah Steve's 73 2L (which is a much later 73 build date).

FYI Y'all - Here is 01102's Chassis plate #3539559 for a build date the week & a day prior to mine - so they were probably neighbors on both the Karmann & VW final assembly lines - despite the VIN stickers' respective Build Dates of 9/72 for this one & 8/72 for mine! Who knows - maybe mine was in front of the line at VW ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
- only adding to the mystery! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Karmann Plate, Front Trunk VIN Plate & Body Stamp for VIN 4732901102:
> Note that the Door VIN & 9/72 Build Date Sticker was previously posted above.





.

If the weather is good tomorrow, I'll try to shoot pix of my air cleaner box & it's part no. - to compare to this one's box/p-n, because they're similar but slightly different. I'm curious if it's any different as a superceded part or not, since they're both "diamond-pattern" stampings on the time, but mine has 3+/- crossbars too, whereas the later 73 MY air boxes like Sahara Beige at the O&H "The Few, the rare..." topic have only cross-bars (& later in late-74 or 75 MY they were smooth topped).

Okay - so aside from this Signal Orange 2L having what would appear to be an erroneous build date sticker, or else it was delayed until after 8/31/72 in its completion - this 914 was built a week & a day before mine, has a VIN 852 before mine & a GA engine 88 before mine .........

... and yet for a week apart & probably on the line at the same time - look at the difference in the stamped top ribbing of the two air cleaner boxes - both of which are the same part number !!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Air Box for My early-`73 MY "914S" / 914-2.0 - VIN 4732901954, 2.0 Engine # GA000424, Chassis No. 3649545 ( = 8/31/72):





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Air Box for Signal Orange early-`73 MY "914S" / 914-2.0 - VIN 4732901102, 2.0 Engine # GA000336, Chassis No. 3539559 ( = 8/23/72):




(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ... Hmmmmm ...... so many differences & quirks in our 914s...........so little time!

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