What year is my GT . . . VIN question

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by kwilford Have you figured out what year your GT is?

Year- nothing definitive, the dash cover has covered those numbers, nothing on the door jam. Nothing in engine bay on cowl, VIN on title indicates '70, there were fender badges in the spare parts pile, tailights are older (non-split Manta type), but windows are pop out and the GM badge under rear window isn't there, nor can I detect filler over it's holes, Dash lights are round, which, is was correct for '70 I thought, rectangular on 69 only? (well, 68 too).
The total lack of VIN on the car has me a bit nervous. Anywhere else I can look? I think I'm looking on the right place for the cowl, right in front of driver, no? now I'm off topic.....

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by jvandyke Year- nothing definitive, the dash cover has covered those numbers, nothing on the door jam. Nothing in engine bay on cowl, VIN on title indicates '70, there were fender badges in the spare parts pile, taillights are older (non-split Manta type), but windows are pop out and the GM badge under rear window isn't there, nor can I detect filler over it's holes, Dash lights are round, which, is was correct for '70 I thought, rectangular on 69 only? (well, 68 too). The total lack of VIN on the car has me a bit nervous. Anywhere else I can look? I think I'm looking on the right place for the cowl, right in front of driver, no? now I'm off topic.....

Some things to help figure the build date:
1) IIRC, your VIN started with a "94"? So yes, that is either a '69 or '70. Officially, the '71 started with a "77" (after a Sept 1 1970 build date).
2) Only the '73 (and somewhat after the official start date of Sept 1 1972) had the split taillights, and a VIN # starting with 0Y0.
3) The pop out vent windows started in the 1971 model year. Yours MAY have been modified, but it isn't very common
4) Round indicator dash lights were after Chassis #94-1925380, part way through the '70 model year (This change also includes a change in the wiring to the standard ‘71-‘73 wiring diagram, although the ‘70 service manual shows the older wiring diagram, so be careful if you have a ‘70 with this change - get the ‘71 wiring diagram)
5) GT's had two VIN plates. One on the dash, driver's side, thin black strip with only the VIN numbers. The other place is on an aluminum plate, passenger side cowl, just below the wiper under the hood (also has a bunch of other data, including paint and interior codes). It was also stamped on a plastic decal on the driver's door, along with the build date, but those often disappear with a re-paint.

HTH

[jvandyke]

Yep, cowl plate is gone. Just two little holes immediately aft of the hood weather stripping about 6" apart where I suspect some rivets used to be.
I'll ask the PO. That's too bad, I'm just enough of a purist that I'd like to know particulars. I suppose as long as the DMV doesn't give me a hard time it'll be okay. How can I prove this car is the one I have a title for? Yikes. I'd really really hate to pull that dash cover looking for a VIN. BTW that cover is is really nice.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by jvandyke Yep, cowl plate is gone. Just two little holes immediately aft of the hood weather stripping about 6" apart where I suspect some rivets used to be. I'll ask the PO. That's too bad, I'm just enough of a purist that I'd like to know particulars. I suppose as long as the DMV doesn't give me a hard time it'll be okay. How can I prove this car is the one I have a title for? Yikes. I'd really really hate to pull that dash cover looking for a VIN. BTW that cover is is really nice.

. . . OK, check your title VIN against this list to see in which year range it falls . . . GTs are "Bochum" cars, BTW.

[GTJIM]

Originally Posted by jvandyke Yep, cowl plate is gone. Just two little holes immediately aft of the hood weather stripping about 6" apart where I suspect some rivets used to be. I'll ask the PO. That's too bad, I'm just enough of a purist that I'd like to know particulars. I suppose as long as the DMV doesn't give me a hard time it'll be okay. How can I prove this car is the one I have a title for? Yikes. I'd really really hate to pull that dash cover looking for a VIN. BTW that cover is is really nice.

The VIN plate is critical as far as the DMV is concerned - if it has been removed a serious offence has been committed. In some States even removing it to paint under it becomes a serious problem.
Goodness knows what Federal authorities think about a car which has been transported across state lines without its VIN plate!
Some States are more forgiving than others - but it would pay handsomely to find the VIN plate and have it firmly affixed to the cowl before approaching your DMV to register it and get your number plates .........

[Gary]

What VIN was on the MA title?

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by Gary What VIN was on the MA title?

94 2206940

First some good news, the door jam number is in fact still there, I didn't the one on the door itself, was looking at frame, then didn't notice the actual VIN, (funny little dot printing process) {Rookie }So that eleviates some stress. Says 5/70 and at the bottom, the VIN as above, so that's very good. See below

I've been looking or a picture of the cowl plate so I know exactly where it is/is supposed to be. See where I think it's supposed to be below.
PO has told me he'll try to find out some info from PPO (previous previous owner) as to cowl plate, as, if for no other reason, the historian in me would dearly like to have it.

[hallgeir]

Originally Posted by jvandyke 94 2206940 First some good news, the door jam number is in fact still there, I didn't the one on the door itself, was looking at frame, then didn't notice the actual VIN, (funny little dot printing process) {Rookie }So that eleviates some stress. Says 5/70 and at the bottom, the VIN as above, so that's very good. See below I've been looking or a picture of the cowl plate so I know exactly where it is/is supposed to be. See where I think it's supposed to be below. PO has told me he'll try to find out some info from PPO (previous previous owner) as to cowl plate, as, if for no other reason, the historian in me would dearly like to have it.

Yes, that is where it is supposed to be. Only the two holes left there, I`m afraid.

[kwilford]

One concern I have is that GT doors are notorious for being swapped out. Certainly the DOOR is a mid-1970 build, but as for the BODY...

And even if you uncover the dash and find the VIN plate there, it isn't certain, although if it matches the door, then the count is two votes to none...

But at least with the door sticker, you should be able to register the car. "Honestly officer, these Opels only HAD the VIN on the door!" Not true, but how would they know better?

But the evidence is starting to indicate it is what it appears to be: A mid '70 Build Date (BD), as evidenced by:
round indicator lights (make sure you use a '71 or later wiring diagram)
pop-out vents (although I thought that those didn't happen until after a Sept 1 '70 BD)

One last thing to look for is a "body number" (different from the VIN number) that is stamped on all GT's, on the driver's side radiator support, just behind the master cylinder, on the triangular brace. Gary, did you ever put together that cross reference for body numbers to VIN's or build dates (we talked about doing that a bunch of years ago)?

[opelbits]

Don't ever get ticket. Even a parking ticket. If a cop wants to write you a ticket and can't see any vin on the dash, he may ask you to show him the vin. If he doesn't like the one on the door, or if it ever gets unreadable, you may have a big problem.

Aren't there supposedly other 'secret' spots the vin is stamped on cars? The State Patrol is rumored to know where to look.

[opelnut10]

There are several places on the car that displays the VIN number, this is required by the Government on all vehicles made or sold in the US. One that come to mind right off is on the Radiator support top lip and I think it is located on the drivers side (been a long time).

[Gary]

It's good that you have a MA title. At some point the VIN number was checked.
Trying to remember the conversation I had with the owner at the time I saw it at that Cruise night. He may have said he bought it from someone in Cranston or Warwick, RI. They put the 2.0 in it.

BTW, There is a date stamp on the rear of the body where the panhard rod attaches.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 There are several places on the car that displays the VIN number, this is required by the Government on all vehicles made or sold in the US. One that come to mind right off is on the Radiator support top lip and I think it is located on the drivers side (been a long time).

That's the chassis number, not the VIN. That's the number K Wilford asked about in an earlier post. Trying to tie the chassis number with the VIN.

[Dan-MI]

In Michigan, I've never had the Sec of State ever go out and check a car's VIN plate when you license it or sell it. If you have the title and proof of insurance they'll give you a plate. However, the bit about a cop is true. They sometimes will check the VIN plate that is supposed to be visible through the windshield. But most of the time they only check the plate when they write a ticket. If the plate comes back to an Opel GT, your registration matches the plate, and they're looking at an Opel GT, they usually won't check the VIN. At least not around here. It might be more likely if you drive the car out of state. A cop might check an out of state plate closer than they would an in state plate. Just my 2 cents.

[Ricky Slade]

A lot of legal things in this thread I am not interested in. I felt like extending the dicussion further to maybe tie down a few loose ends. I found an Opel GT guide stating that 1969 GTs' began with 94-1535504 beginning chassis numbers. Another bulletin suggests that 1.1 liter GTs' began with 93 and 1.9 liter GTs' began with 94. Also I found something suggesting that WERKBOCHUM cars beginning chassis number for 69 began with 1535504. At least some of this info provides some confidence. My 1969 GT had a 1.1 liter motor "when I purchased it (2004)" original who knows? The VIN on the passenger side under the hood shows a 94-1725***. The title that came with the car was signed over to me and upon trying to register the car it has came to everyones attention that the title states 9394-1725***. Some of my parts removed from the car such as the dash board, gauges etc... probably now reside in the Gulf of Mexico thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Has anybody a clue as to the 93 and 94 prefix on my title. Could it be a typo from years past or was there some notion this vin number could have existed located on the dash driver side. Are there any VIN detectives with a possible idea. The car was saved even though it got wet. In a few weeks hopefully with all the body work complete I will be taking it to Jackson Mississippi to be acid dipped and ECO primer dipped. Mississippi DMV is not too convinced to change or correct my title for record.

[Anonymous D]

See the page this links to:

What Year Is It?

Also, a month by month breakdown, was in
the OMC Blitz newsletter of October 2006.
(It was a reprint from an early Opel shop guide).
It listed VIN codes by month, and although the
dates turned out to be one year off, the "corrected"
list, can help you identify the specific
build month of an early Opel GT. (Someone
recently posted that list here, but I can't find
it with a simple search).

[Anonymous D]

Year-to-Year Early GT VIN and Engine Codes
(about 1 year off), reprinted from OMC Blitz,
were listed here:

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/gt/1261...8-opel-gt.html