VIN/Year Question

[82Blue]

I recently bought what was supposed to be an 82 Spider. The title said 1982 with first delivery in 1983. But when I went to get insurance, they told me the VIN on the title was off on one character and that it was a 1981. I checked it against the stamped VIN on the car and they were right. The whole thing seems kind of confusing to me. Anyone had any similar experience? Also, are there any marked differences between the 81 and 82 that I could check? I assume that it's an 81 based on the VIN, but it's awfully strange that the DMV shows its first delivery in 1983.

[rlux4]

Is this the same DMV that has the vin number off by one digit?
The 81 and 82's were identical except for the 81 Anniversary edition cars, of which 1000 were made. The only way to positively determine model year is by vin number, not what some dealer or DMV employee wrote down.
Funny though that it's gone unnoticed all these years.
Ron

[82Blue]

Thanks. I'll just tell people it's 81-ish.

[mdrburchette]

The 10th digit of a 17 digit VIN is the year model. An 81 would have a "B" and the 82 would have a "C". It's possible your car was a demo or just wasn't sold until 1983.
On a similar note, I took my new 86 X19 to Sears to have the alignment checked and the tires balanced. The VIN shows it to be an 86 but the build date on the car is 6/85 so I had to argue with the employees that my car was an 86 and not an 85. Heck, it didn't even matter since X19s had the same suspension throughout several year models.

[82Blue]

One other question about this - the VIN stamped on the door panel is a little different than the VIN on the chassis inside the engine bay - but the starting and ending numbers are the same. Is this typical?

[spider2081]

If you show us the actual Vin #s on the firewall, windshield and the white tag on drivers door jam we might be more help.
What is the date of manufacture on the white door jam tag??

[82Blue]

Here's the story:

The VIN on the original bill of sale and on the door jam and on the top of the dash is:

ZFAASOOB5B8187411

On the title, the VIN was incorrectly recorded as ZFARS00B5B8187411

In the engine bay, the number stamped on the chassis and on a plate mounted on the chassis is:

ZFA124CSO*08187411

I've never looked at VIN numbers so closely until now, so not sure this is normal. The california DMV is making me take it to the CHP for verification before I can register it, but I think it's mainly due to the error arond the "A" vs. "R" above.

Any help is appreciated!

[82Blue]

Also, the date of manufacture stamped on the door jam is May of 1981, but the DMV pointed out that that plate was re-attached after new paint and they thought the metal tag under the windshield was made after the restoration of the dash, so they didn't like it.

[rlux4]

That's so obvioulsy a typo that I'm sure you have one of two things going on. Either the DMV employee is a complete idiot, or they're purposely slowing transactions down to prove to the governator that four days a week isn't enough hours for them to finish their work.
Ron

[spider2081]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong.
The 10th character from the left indicates the year of the vehicle. Your Vin # has the letter "B" and that is for the production year 1981. The letter "C" is 1982. Also the tag on the door jam states date of manufacture as May 1981. I think the production year starts July 1 so to be a 1982 the manufacture date would be after July. Lastly I think 1981 production year began with chassis # 171001 and ended with 193,849. So I think the car is a 1981. I don't think this is what you wanted to hear.

[pope]

81's did not start with 171001. That was where 80's probably started. The charts all around the web of production # are mostly wrong. I also dont think that Fiat had a production year that started in July. In fact I think they had a rolling production year. I think late fall or close to the new year was a model year.

I think it all adds up to the proper 1981 spider. What # is stamped onto the firewall above the aluminum tag on the firewall. That really verifies the proper number. I think they also stamped the number on the drivers side fender, just inside the hood next to the radiator. Unless you have a replacement fender

[82Blue]

Thanks for all the input. Really appreciate it.

I listed above the number stamped on the fire wall and it differs in structure from the one on the door jamb, but begins and ends with the same letters/numbers - there's just an asterisk and "124" in the middle of it. Is that typical? I just want to have my story straight when I get the CHP to verify it. I realize it's a 1981. Interesting to note that it had 54 miles on the odometer when it was delivered to the first owner in 1983.

[pope]

What you have is a pre post model. A 17 digit # was mandated in 1982 and it had to follow a numbering scheme that involved check numbers. The previous 17 digit with a (star) was instituted in late 1979 to get ready for the change, but they never put the correct 17 digit # on the door post or the dash till 82. Thats why there is a conflict with the 124 c going away. So your was made in 81 and stamped, oldstyle as an 81, but the tags were updated to a 82 style world mandate.

Mine is Jan 1980 spider with a 17 digit on the firewall and a 14 digit on the dash and 7 digit on the door post.
54 miles? Probably a demo car that potential buyers drove to try out.

[mdrburchette]

ZFA124CSO*08187411 is a chassis number. European countries used a chassis number. The US mandated vecicles sold in the US to use a 17 digit VIN system starting in 1981.
The chassis number tell you what vehicle you have:
ZFA = Made in Italy
124CSO = 124 body style and CSO model
08187411 chassis number

[spider2081]

Thanks Denise,
I should have searched what a Vin is first. If anyone is interested here is a link explaining the 17 character code:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Id ... ion_Number

I found it interesting