vin number

[Gchapman]

I need help my eagle  #8980D  title  says it is a1975 . but all i find says it is a 1973 .I had dmv ck and they could only go back to 1994  it was a 75 then Can someone help me please?
 

[beltguy]

Hi Gene

Welcome to our forum.

VIN or production numbers have been documented by two different folks.  The first was done by J. Bowman (data contained in this link).  The other data was documented by Joe Richards (this link).

According to the Bowman data your bus is a Model 05 made in 1973.  The Richards data also shows it to be a 1973 and sold to a bus company named Southern

Jim

 

[beltguy]

Does the bus have the original vin plate on it.  That plate is usually (at least for a model 10) silver maybe 5 inches wide by 8 inches tall with black background and silver letters as I recall.  On Model 10 (all I have personal data on) is mounted on the wall above and to the left of the driver's shoulder.  I am sure you would have seen it if it was there.  If the bus has been converted, there is no telling where it is.

The real dilemma is how to handle the situation with your DMV.  If it is already titled in your name, I would just let it ride as is. It is doubtful that anyone would ever dispute that it is really a 1973 since, as you point out, most of the old records at DMV are not available. 

If you have not licensed it yet, the easy way out would be to just let the DMV license it as a 1975 per the above comments.  It is possible that it was manufactured in late 1973 and not sold until late 1974 (as a 1975 model).  Go with that and bet heavily that no one will dispute you {grin}.  Trying to get the title converted from a 1975 year to 1973 could easily turn into a bag of worms.

Jim