chassis number decoder, is this right? Options

[jagalyn]

Question on counting the weeks: In my case the first of January is on a Thursday so the first week of the year is a partial week, is that week still considered the first week or is the first full week of the year considered the first week? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Thanks

That would be considered the first week of the year even if it is a partial week.

Week of the Calendar for 1970

[emerygt350]

So mine says 9/72 but I can't figure that out by the chassis number...

[SirAndy]

So mine says 9/72 but I can't figure that out by the chassis number...

@emerygt350
Looks to be 3729610 so according to the guide from the first post that would be:

37 week
2 day
9
610 - 500 = 110 car that day


Google-ing the calendar for 1972 week 37 was from September 10th to September 16
Since Karmann started counting on Mondays, the 2nd day that week would be:
Tuesday, September 12th 1972

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[emerygt350]

So mine says 9/72 but I can't figure that out by the chassis number...

@emerygt350
Looks to be 3729610 so according to the guide from the first post that would be:

37 week
2 day
9
610 - 500 = 110 car that day


Google-ing the calendar for 1972 week 37 was from September 10th to September 16
Since Karmann started counting on Mondays, the 2nd day that week would be:
Tuesday, September 12th 1972

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Thanks Sir Andy!!! I missed its 51st birthday but I am sure it will forgive me.

[76-914]

Re: My 1976 914; Would I still use calendar year '76 even though the factory made the last 914 on Dec1975? Need to buy a repro VIN decal. TIA

[davep]

NO! 4762901295 would be 10/75

[76-914]

Let me see if I have this correct. If my chassis # = 4139042 and my VIN = 4762901295 I would use calendar year 1975 since they were actually made in 1975. Therefor:

41 = 41st week of 1975
3 = Wednesday
9 = Karmann Factory
042 = 42nd build of the day

Hence Oct 8,1975

[dax1969]

Interesting... 3419547

week 34 1974 - august
1 = monday
5 = nobody knows (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
47th car

21st august 1974 - 47th car of the day.

So in 2024 my baby becomes 50 !

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

dax

[mgarrison]

So, my chassis # = 4649581 and my VIN = 4742908715 with an 11/73 build date.

Then:

46 = 46th week of 1973
4 = Thursday
9 = Karmann Factory
581 = 81st build of the day (nobody knows what that pesky "5" is...???)

So...November 15, 1973

Did I work that out correctly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

If so, that's pretty COOL because our daughter's birthday is November 15th! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

[76-914]

The quotation in the 1st post says that only 70-74 model years use the digit "5". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[Front yard mechanic]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) Edit

[Olympic 914]

So mine says 9/72 but I can't figure that out by the chassis number...

@emerygt350
Looks to be 3729610 so according to the guide from the first post that would be:

37 week
2 day
9
610 - 500 = 110 car that day


Google-ing the calendar for 1972 week 37 was from September 10th to September 16
Since Karmann started counting on Mondays, the 2nd day that week would be:
Tuesday, September 12th 1972

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Looks like mine was built the next day . 3739545

Sept 13th 1972 45th car

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[fixer34]

Does any of this apply to the -6 models? My Karmann tag has nothing stamped in the chassis box, and '15' (Irish Green) in the lower box.
The trunk stamped number is 130911. Scraped both ends looking for more numbers, that was all.

[Dave_Darling]

I think the -6 chassis did not use this numbering scheme, they had their own.

Dave Pateman or Jeff Bowlsby are probably the two people here that might have the best idea of what the -6 chassis numbers mean.

--DD

[davep]

email me for more info: Kardex@bell.net
Dave P

[sixaddict]

So does this same formula work for 914-6 ( specifically the number in rear trunk floor ) which is in center not rear corner

So, my chassis # = 4649581 and my VIN = 4742908715 with an 11/73 build date.

Then:

46 = 46th week of 1973
4 = Thursday
9 = Karmann Factory
581 = 81st build of the day (nobody knows what that pesky "5" is...???)

So...November 15, 1973

Did I work that out correctly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

If so, that's pretty COOL because our daughter's birthday is November 15th! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

Just a related side note...

I took a picture of the body tag on the Sounato GT at Rennsport.

It doesn't have a number on it, just the paint code.



"Curiouser and curiouser!" - Alice

[SirAndy]

Just a related side note...
I took a picture of the body tag on the Sounato GT at Rennsport.
It doesn't have a number on it, just the paint code.
"Curiouser and curiouser!" - Alice

@ClayPerrine
It's a /6 is it not? Them do not have a chassis number on the Karmann tag.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[wonkipop]

So, my chassis # = 4649581 and my VIN = 4742908715 with an 11/73 build date.

Then:

46 = 46th week of 1973
4 = Thursday
9 = Karmann Factory
581 = 81st build of the day (nobody knows what that pesky "5" is...???)

So...November 15, 1973

Did I work that out correctly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

If so, that's pretty COOL because our daughter's birthday is November 15th! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

the pesky 5 is the number assigned to 914s on the karmann assembly line up to the first 100. then it flipped to a 6 if they went over 100 for the day (which they rarely did).

other cars on the k production line got a different number at that location.
something like 1 and 2 for the beetle cabs and 3 and 4 for ghias. not sure i have the actual number assigned correct but they got different numbers.

later when they shut down the ghia line and moved the 914s across to the cab line with the beetles the 914s got a different number instead of 5 and 6. if i recall when i looked into this they might have got the ghias old numbers. but there was also a week where they got scrambled. dave p knows all about it. i think the scirrocos ended up with the numbers that the 914 had from 70 to 74.

the number on the karmann plate is a VW production number. all VWs of that era have it. depending on the factory or the model where the VW was made the factory number is different. ie its not a 9 if its not the karmann plant. and the next number after that is different depending on the model being made at the factory. some models got more than two numbers allocated for the sequencing of cars for the day. they were making a lot more than 100 beetles for instance at wolfsburg than 100 per day. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wonkipop]

Does any of this apply to the -6 models? My Karmann tag has nothing stamped in the chassis box, and '15' (Irish Green) in the lower box.
The trunk stamped number is 130911. Scraped both ends looking for more numbers, that was all.

the karmann plate would be stamped with the porsche internal system numbers.
similar to the cars made at the ruetter body plant across the road from the porsche factory in stuttgart.

probably all the 911 and 912 bodies made at the karmann plant for porsche in the 1960s are similarly numbered as the 6. because karmann was making both the 911 and may have made all the 912s - or at least all the 912s for the USA.

someone like dave p with access to porsche records would crack that one.

point being.
4s are built as VWs and use VW production number code on the k plate.
6s are porsches and used porsche body number code on the k plate.
evidence of the original arrangement for production and marketing of the car.
just like the fact that at least in germany the 4 was sold at a VW dealership and the 6 was sold at a porsche dealership despite the VW-PORSCHE badge.

in the UK the car was sold at porsche dealerships.

and everyone knows how it went in the USA. basically VW owned Porsche-Audi dealership network set up in north america at that time.

and these days there is final clarity thanks for F. Piech. VW own all the brands and the Piech Family mostly own VW. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)