I would be careful about the terminology that you are using. It was produced (meaning assembled) during 5th week of August 1972 but the sales invoices for an August assembled car came out in September. If you say that production did not begin until Sept 1972 this hurts your position because it implies that no cars were produced in August 1972 for the 1973 model year.
How do the sequence numbers stack up from 100001 too 271386, are they just numbered as they roll off the production line ie: 01 02 03 04 etc is 171386 units alot of cars for a year?
Your production number is only related to the Flint factory for that model year. Model year 1973 was the second best in Buick history, Model year sales by US dealers peaked at a record 726,191 cars. Total 1973 model year production was 821,165 Buicks. My mate imports American cars into Blighty, and he says that not the date of production, but the date of the first registration of the car is what counts for the tax-exempt rule in England. I always thought that it would be better to have a "moving" 25 years and older tax-exempt rule, like we have here in the Netherlands. Today cars with a first registration before July 1st 1983 are tax-exempt. And we pay way more road tax, your US$ 380.00 is just a laugh. Maybe you should convert the car to run on LPG, this will pay back the extra costs for the road tax in no time :TU:
Your mate is mistaken, http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/TaxationClasses/DG_4022042 My car was registered in 1980 and we did have a rolling tax exemption up until about 1998 when it froze at 1973. The sequence number for my car is 104789, does this mean it was the 4789th car on the production line at Flint for the 1973 model year?
Yes, As you can read in Mike's little chart, the first model year 1973 A-body (like your Century Luxus model) built in Flint, Michigan started with production number 100001. So that's another proof that your car was built in August 1972, at the start of the 1973 Buick model year.
does Sloan have records for '76 model year Buicks?? I'm wanting to gather as much info on my '76 Electra 225 as I can
Why ask here if you can find that info on the Sloan website ? They have reports for cars built in these factories, and with the following production numbers: 1976: B BALTIMORE,MD 100001 - 118357 C SOUTHGATE, CA 100001 - 115768 E LINDEN, NJ 100001 - 136627 G FRAMINGHAM, MA 100001 - 153350 H FLINT, MI 100001 - 594889 K LEEDS, MO 100001 - 162406 L VAN NUYS, CA 100001 - 126462 T TARRYTOWN, NY 100001 - 125983 X FAIRFAX, KS 100001 - 170606 Z FREMONT, CA 100001 - 719949
This problem still not resolved, The July shut down must be documented somewhere, does anyone have knowledge of where I could obtain this proof. If anyone has this info in print please let me know.ray:ray:ray:
I have allready pointed that out to this "expert" here is his last Email: Dear Mr Baker, <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o> In answer to your email dated 1<SUP>st</SUP> August. <o> </o> We have completed the service and provided you with a Year Verification Certificate confirming the 1973 Model year of manufacture from the VIN/Chassis number supplied. <o> </o> It is not for us to provide you with a certificate so you can avoid paying Road Fund Tax on an imported vehicle. <o> </o> In this country as you no, it is the date from first registration not manufacture that is recognised for tax purposes. So if your vehicle was a <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">UK</st1lace></st1:country-region> manufactured car the 1973 cut off date would I believe apply to when it was first registered. <o> </o> However as you have queried the month decoding we provided from the Body Tag information that you also supplied, we are trying to obtain more information. <o> </o> Our decode specialist Paul Hilton stated that the 1973 model year vehicles went on sale Sept. 22nd 1972, and that your car is such a borderline case. All though it has always been recognised that Model year production in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">USA</st1lace></st1:country-region> commenced September the previous year.<o></o> <o> </o> So Paul is trying to obtain proof that the said vehicles production started in August 1972 not September, and therefore the month code August 5<SUP>th</SUP> week relates to 1972 not 1973.<o></o> <o> </o> Best regards,<o></o> Trevor Lynn. <o> </o> <o> </o>
Government website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/TaxationClasses/DG_4022042 Quote: If your vehicle was constructed before 1 January 1973, you could tax it in the 'historic vehicle' tax class. Further information can be found on leaflet INF34.
So, what's your problem ? The production number tells you that this is an early model year car, built in August 1972. Isn't this production date (Year, month and week) documented in the Sloan Museum report you ordered and paid for a few weeks ago ? Vehicle Identification Number Reports - $50.00 (view sample) The only vehicle specific information we maintain is for Buick model years 1970, and 1972 through 1976 using VIN microfilm records donated by Buick Motor Division. For a complete list of available VINs, click here. VIN reports feature the same information as found on Buick Motor Division's invoice forms. All reports list options, invoice amount, invoice date, color, trim, key codes, order number, and dealer number. A black and white copy of the wholesale car order form featuring selected options and accessories is also included. Your VIN is in the list of available VINs :TU: C SOUTHGATE, CA 100001 131497 G FRAMINGHAM, MA 100001 169575 H FLINT, MI 100001 602592 L VAN NUYS, CA 100001 110801 N NORWOOD, 100001 114395 X FAIRFAX, KS 100001 422231 Y WILMINGTON, DE 100001 254832 Z FREMONT, CA 100001 157507
My problem is the DVLA requirements, ie What documents will I need to produce? Vehicle registration Document/Certificate (V5/V5C) This must clearly show a date of registration or manufacture of the vehicle prior to *1 January 1973. If the registration document/Certificate is not available or if you think the age shown is incorrect, you will need to produce a dating certificate from a vehicle enthusiasts club or evidence from the vehicle manufacturer. *Note: Where a registration document/Certificate indicates that the vehicle was registered up to and including 7 January 1973, we are prepared to allow entry into the Historic Class on the basis that the vehicle would have been constructed the previous year. An appropriate test certificate (if applicable) A valid Certificate of Insurance Completed licence application form V10 available for download from www.direct.gov.uk/motoring, from Post Office branches or a DVLA local office. 8 So I contacted an enthusiast club to obtain a dating certificate as instructed, but it turns out that the decode expert knows nothing about the DVLA rules nor VIN # and very little about cowl tags. I agree with what you guys are saying as its all backed up with documentation, my expert has provided me with nothing to prove his claim that my car was constructed August 1973
And the Sloan report didn't help o No: ? Well, it's only a small yearly amount that you have to pay, and like I said before:
Sloan only supplied invoice date 21 September, the year was not on the micro film, although Jeff said it is 1972, but my "expert" said Jeff is wrong. Its not about the money, its the principle, they charged a fee to provide a service and the service is 5hit. They dont even know how the DVLA works! and they said the curator of the Buick Museum doesnt know how to date a Buicko No: go figure
:Smarty: Tell your expert that if he wants to buy a 2009 American auto he can do so right now since they started building the 2009 cars in August of 2008, just like they built the '73 cars starting in August of '72.. :beer