Factory Pan Date Stamp

[Volcrew]

The sig line bug's pan has a painted date on the bottom driver's side (USA port-side) as shown below.

I interpret it as 16-9-74 in the EU date format DD-M-YY.

Question: At what step in the manufacturing process did the factory date it? Was this the date the pan was made? Was it the date the car was finished?

I would like to know for my restoration documentation. Thanks.
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1975 FI T1 Cliff Grün L61A

[APPLEGREENVW]

Here are the numbers that I found in my frame head.What do the 4 numbers in front mean?
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Parts for sale https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=APPLEGREENVW

02/76 Beetle sedan

[Volcrew]

[Fiddlestyx]

I don't think January has 32 days in it. I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong though.
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1983 Vanagon Westfalia Air-cooled
1973 Super Beetle

[ashman40]

[viiking]

Having worked for a German company they all operate on week numbers.

1.32.76 is most likely first day of production, 32nd week in 1976 meaning this produced or stamped on Monday (usually but not always the first day of the week). This equates to Monday 2nd August 1976, meaning it would therefore be a (only just) a 1977 model most likely?

7136, is most likely 7th day of production (a Sunday), week 13, 1976. That is Sunday March 28, 1976. Is yours therefore a 76 model?

16.9.74 has me stumped. It most likely is the date 16th Sep 1974, but would have more correctly been stamped as 16.09.74. Or is it even an aftermarket or replacement pan?

My reasoning for the code differences in format is to help distinguish the same date code from different sections of the pressing factory, or even from different machines? For example 1.32.76 and 13276 would be immediately be identified from paperwork being from different areas. Only guessing.

It is not uncommon for machines to be set up with different code formats. Also most bottle manufacturers engrave each mould in a multi-head moulding machine with a unique number just to identify which of one of the say 32 moulds in a bottle blowing machine is giving out of specification results. Check the bottom of plastic bottles and you should know what I mean.

But I guess VW used these codes more likely to ensure that stock got rotated around properly and old ones were not left to sit in a warehouse until it was too late.

All just conjecture however.

[Volcrew]

[Volcrew]

Viking, sorry, I did not see your post while I was writing. Thanks for your thoughts.

Regarding your question about the pan date, I am absolutely positive it is an original factory pan.
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1975 FI T1 Cliff Grün L61A

[APPLEGREENVW]

[viiking]

Well its unlikely that my theory holds water if your vehicle was despatched before the date on the chassis!

[Rome]

Volcrew, exactly where on your pan are those markings? Bottom surface of the pan opposite the battery tray on the driver's side? I have two '77 Std. Beetles, both of which have their original floorpans, but don't remember ever seeing them. If truly on the underside, you must have a low-mile vehicle since I'd imagine regular use would eventually wear it off.

Applegreen, does the frame head number correspond to the 4-digit number stamped into the small metal ID tag riveted to the trunk edge, to the left of the trunk latch? Hopefully your car still has the tag. The 4 digits on the tag are the production sequence #.

I think it would be a huge coincidence that the numbers match. Reason is, I can imagine that fully completed, US-spec pans (without the front axle at this point) would be made in advance and stockplied until an appropriate US model Beetle body came along in the assembly sequence. I doubt that the pan would be locked to a specific body until much later during assembly, after the front axle was installed. Remember that the Beetle was built at the Emden plant in those years, since Wolfsburg was full with Rabbits/Golfs and Dashers. The production of Beetles in Emden was declining, especially for the North American market.

In your first photo, the paint stamp could also be 1.3 (narrow space) 2.76. 2.76 would be the production month of the pan. This jives with your completed production date in late Feb 1976 and would support my idea above that pans were stockpiled in large quantities but only marked to identify a larger batch such as the pan production month. The 1.3 could be the engine size (1.3 liters aka 1300cc) but that invites many inconsistencies. Standard Beetles for other markets which had the 1300 engine would still have swingaxle rear axle. US Beetles for the '76 model year had the 1.6 (1600) engine and IRS.

[Volcrew]

[Volcrew]

By the way, the VIN sticker on my door frame shows the build date as 10/1974, so the pan date is a couple of weeks before.

Maybe this is too long for it to be an assembly line stamp. More likely a pre-assembly step like pan forming?
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1975 FI T1 Cliff Grün L61A

[APPLEGREENVW]

[hbvankranen]

This stamp i found on my superbeetle

Day nine of week 5 ?

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www.hbvankranen.nl