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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11158
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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 Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Beetle Convertible Karmann stamped numbers request |
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| bnam wrote: |
There's still a hole in the theory as it applies to my car:
As you say, approx. 450-500 cars a week were made. Would it not be more likely that #400 would be built towards the end of the week rather than on the first day itself (my car's body was stamped 51).
What could explain that?
Option B: Body #400 (and a few others) scheduled for late week 4 did not manage to get completed in week 4 due to some unforecasted reason and these spillover cars were completed on the first day of the following week. But, since their build sheet already had a production schedule number, that number was used.
I'm inclined to go with option B. I figure build schedules and numbers were issued at the start of body assy. That would mean body 400 had the number 400 assigned to it at the time body assy was started. When the body was completed, the date of completion, and week were appended along with plant code to get the full stamped number.
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I agree.. option b is plausible . So I would read you as thinking.. the week day stamp are near end of build.. indicators? 
My hole in that theory..
Karmann protocol would be Karmann protocol.. if the Porsche line was being stamped a certain way.. as date start ... Im sure the lowly Beetles were too. 
Your idea surely possible. It does closely align with your car.. in reality.. either do as close as they are to the BC..
But in either case the 69/70s from page one are WAY off..
Those few noted earlier have Jan/Feb builds start or end stamps. with April vin assignments
I cant fathom that just yet..  .
All depends on how VINS were assigned and stamped.
Seems....by 71 production greatly improved.. and or.. there was something different and changed when the Super Beetle came on line ?
My thinking.. and calculations were based on a 12 month average.....could be the daily and week amount were not consistent.. maybe 100 built one day 75 they next, 500 one week.. 200 the next etc etc... ups and downs which changes sequential week build calculations quite a bit.
If the avg 60-70 cars a day were made.. and an avg 450-500 are made a week.. with your car being built in the last week of Jan 1971.. the 400 aligns fairly well with a late week 4 build or early week 5 build as you consider.
Maybe week 5 was a light end of the month work week?
I dont have an answer or theory for that.
We simply don't have any facts about EXACT amount of convertible produced a given month or a given week or day for that matter.... only calculated averages.
In fact if you consider some holidays and down time for re tooling.. its really not a 12 month build schedule.. more like 10-11 month which ups the avg cars per month in less time.
I honestly think your car and numbers helped nail down this theory much closer .
Thanks for helping
Im sure someone will pop in a know the answer...or blow the whole thing to shreds with their car numbers.
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aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 3462
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Beetle Convertible Karmann stamped numbers request |
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=694505&highlight=body+stamping
Cross post from Ghias.
Another anomalous body stamp -- 2459005 - low body number at the end of week.
Possibly
(a) started early in week, but needed correction/repair and was finished late in the week, or
(b) factory decided to pull in the following week's schedule to get an early start/compensate for holiday/downtime etc.
OR
The last 3 digit numbering is not related to the week -- ie not the xxx th car produced that week, but instead is a sequence number in a batch or lot.
The batches may have been weekly, but my not necessarily coincide with a week. Body numbers (last 3) would be assigned per batch and when body was completed, week and date code prefixed.
This would explain low numbers with late week dates and high numbers with early week dates.
At completion of body it probably went thru some QC. Those failing would be put into the repair and rework line. They would be repaired and reworked as capacity permitted and be finished later than usual. This could explain the few instances of large delays between body build date and production date.
Byas
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1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
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1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11158
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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| Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 6:40 am Post subject: Re: Beetle Convertible Karmann stamped numbers request |
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Great added link information.. Thanks .
Numbering batches makes sense.. seems maybe to be batches in a given period after a start date indicated by week and day.
Nice to see the '9' mid digits.. that coincides with 9 being Onasbruck Karmann factory for the units built there across the board.
Funny for pre 68 Convertibles .. the numbering was merely sequential for the build year.. seems easier.
But I agree .. the change for 68 and newer would seem to be a form of quality control or documented production timing ..
Cool stuff.
.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
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Hinchy
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Surrey UK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2023 12:43 am Post subject: Re: Beetle Convertible Karmann stamped numbers request |
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This is from my 1968 🤷♂️ |
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redhot
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2005
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 11:01 am Post subject: Re: Beetle Convertible Karmann stamped numbers request |
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Hi all,
Was this topic concluded as in interpreting the to my understanding the 3+4 numbers on the body plate riveted to the front apron (next to latch reciever)?
I am curious for the late Super Beetle domain; I am pending getting to check the stamp (if there) below the window washer bottle, but will do once opportunity arises).
I have the numbers for the body plate, chassis number and the US sticker in the driver side door jamb all being available. |
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 3462
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Beetle Convertible Karmann stamped numbers request |
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Re/reading the thread/ there is another error. We’ve been decoding 5 as Jan. But 5 is really Dec if Aug is 1.
If first digit is number of the month (in the model year) then the 7 digit stamping starting with 2 don’t make sense.
Byas
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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