Build date vs year

[Trstno1]

Does anyone know what build date months transferred to the next year car model? My car, 5625 was built in October 1981. Would that be an 81 or would that officially be a 1982 model. I ask because my hood does not have a fuel filler flap and I had one guy look at the vin plate and blankly state that it was an 82 model.... I have noticed cars with build dates of December 1981 are considered a 1982 model.... What is mine? I knew that late 81 models went to the grooved hood so I wasn't really worried until the 1982 comment from a friend....


The reason I'm a little concerned is because my title and all of my paperwork says that it's a 1981 model. Can someone shed some light on this?

[Sidaries]

It is an 1981 model. Until the 7199 VIN (and November), all the cars are 1981 models. 1982 models started from 10000 and from December.
Before VIN 3200, the cars had grooved hood with flap. From 3200 until 7199 no flap, but grooved hood, and from 10000 no groove, no flap.
But this is DMC, so exceptions are always present. :)

[Dangermouse]

You may be interested in the Registry tab here

http://txdmc.org/

More information than you may care to know :)

[AugustneverEnds]

I think your VIN is pretty definitive in telling what model year your car is. 1981s are SCEDTxxxxxBDxxxxx, 1982s are CDxxxxx, and 1983s are DDxxxxx.

[David T]

I think your VIN is pretty definitive in telling what model year your car is. 1981s are SCEDTxxxxxBDxxxxx, 1982s are CDxxxxx, and 1983s are DDxxxxx.


The model year and the Title don't always agree. At the time (early '80's) by the middle of September new cars being sold would be the next model (calendar) year. Your vin indicates what model year the manufacturer considered the car to be. You cannot always go by the hood (or anything else) because it could have been changed at some point. Even the build date won't tell you the model year as accurately as the vin. By now it really does not matter all that much anymore unless you are getting judged in a Concours. An '82 would have a flat hood, the ASI radio, the power antennae in the rear pontoon, the flared tailpipes, the door straps inside the door and some other things too minor to mention. Early '81's have the grooved hood with the filler door and the straight tailpipes with later ones still having the grooved hood but no fuel door and the Craig radio and console clock.

[bfloyd]

From 3200 until 7199 no flap, but grooved hood, and from 10000 no groove, no flap.
But this is DMC, so exceptions are always present. :)

Since mine (3294) - August '81 build has a flat hood with no grooves, it's either been replaced at some point or is one of the "exceptions"?

[DMCMW Dave]

Since mine (3294) - August '81 build has a flat hood with no grooves, it's either been replaced at some point or is one of the "exceptions"?

Likely been replaced. Most of the dealer inventory sheet metal was flat hoods.

The other thing that happened is after the company closed and the dealers were stuck with cars, you could got to a dealer and say "Gee I really like that black automatic but I don't like the flap in the hood" and they'd swap parts around, especially on an easy panel like the hood. This happened with wheels as well.

[bfloyd]

Thanks for the reply Dave. You're on my list to call right after the first of the year.

[Trstno1]

Thanks for all the responses! I am feeling much better now.:rollin: