Re: urq VINs

["Lawson, Dave" <dlawson@ball.com>]

Mikes mars red ur-q has a VIN of
>
WAUDC0851DA900539

sorry, still the build date is 7/82 though
>

It's a 1983 ur-q, the D in the 10th placeholder specifies 
the year, A = 1980, B=1981, C=1982, D=1983...

My ur-q is D0072 and the door jamb has the date as 2/82.
I have seen US build cars with the VIN having a C for the 
date, that is why there is a listing for 1982 US cars, even 
though these were thought of as MY 1983.

I don't think the US cars were built in any numerical sequence
or groupings. I know of a few cars around D0050-70 with 
consecutive VINs and there are a bunch randomly scattered 
in the 100's, 200's, 300's and 400's. There seems to be quite 
a few in the 500's. There is the VIN split around D0545 or so 
in which the suspension changed to the 'later" style 4000Q 
setup where the A arms, sway bar mounts, rear locating arms,
ball joints, etc. are different along with some revised spring rates.
And I think the car sat a little lower. But that VIN split is not
hard and fast, Thompson Smiths old ur-q is an example of a 
car with a VIN after the split but still had the 'early' style 
suspension. The next change for the 1983 D0XXX ur-q was 
around the high 500's, there are a number of these cars which
have the underhood fuse box and better wiring system.
HTH.
-
Dave Lawson