Original windshield or tire? Maybe DOT can help!

[harrymarlin]

Is your tire or glass original? You may be able to tell by if it has a DOT number or not. As a note, I did the below research to try to answer a question about whether a 67 windshield was original.

Here is some historical information which may tell you.

* The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) was established by the Department of Transportation Act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967
* A standardized 10-digit Tire Identification Number (often called a DOT number) was mandated by the United States Department of Transportation in 1971
* DOT numbers for auto glass glazing were required to be effective April 1, 1973

I'm going to add to this confusion a little - if it's mandated by a date, manufacturers must have been doing it before that date. For the glass, the specification for the glass was codified in FMVSS Part 205, which originally took effect on 1 Jan 1968 - so everyone would have been putting them on before that point.

DOT glass manufacturer codes were assigned in 1968 (One reference I found noted that the earliest note of a DOT mark on Camaros glass was in January 1969)

So, If you don't have a DOT number on your glass, it was before April 1, 1973. If you *do* have a DOT number, it *could* be any time after 1 January 1968.
Likewise, if your tire does not have a DOT code on it, it can not be any younger than 1971 (and, I'm sure you know, shouldn't be driven on!)

I now know that any original windshield for my 67 Beetle would *not* have a DOT code.

I hope this helps someone in the future!

Research:
http://www.camaros.org/glass.shtml
http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2013/10/date-coding-car-window-glass.html[/list]
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-Harry
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1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia

[OTTO 1303]

Good Info

Thanks
_________________
74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG

[Dan the workingstiff]

Yeah, I like stuff like this
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'69 Beetle
'66 FG buggy
My other air-cooled's
'76 IH 1200
'75 IH 1200

[ShortyMedlock]

Geez... I drove my '39 Ford corn bin find on Ford script tires from the 1940's!!!!

But I never went more than 200 miles....