truckerger wrote:
Dannbo wrote:
I think eleven number vins are pre 1973. My 1973 manual for Dodge motorhome chassis refers to a thirteen number vin. Who knows?? I have spent many hours on the search for things. Try to google VIN search and go from there narrowing down as you go.
Quite often I'm told that the chassis were purchased from the manufactures one or two years ahead of the actual build. You could check with some of the experts on this site, but I think vin numbers changed from whatever??? to thirteen numbers around this time. Good luck in your search.
I don't know much about VIN numbers and the dates making a difference in the length of them, but mine is 1973 Monaco and it has a three digit VIN.
Mine is a 1970 Explorer on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis and the serial number (VIN) is ten digits.
Serial numbers (or VIN) changed several times, ending with a federally mandated format sometime in the 70's.
Encoded is the VIN is the place of manufacture, date, original engine size, etc.; usually the last five or six digits are an actual serial number and the preceding is encoded information.
The serial number is what actually told me I had a "split year" motorhome, in which the vehicle model year differs from the chassis manufacture date. (Mopar changed format between 1969 and 1970.)
In short, the serial number is assigned by the chassis manufacturer but the model year for registration purposes is assigned by the final manufacturer.
(In the older Mopars, part numbers also contained an encoded date that indicates when that particular part was put into service ... although a given part might be used for many years, it does indicate some of the history.)
Griff
Griff's Custom Classic Motorhome Projects (www.riffgan.com/motorhome/)A forum containing a section just for Dodge motorhomes (www.wildmopartruckcountry.com)
