VIN /Year question

[fillupd]

I am confused about some years of cars. I drive a 78 spider and had to get a parts car for a tranny. I don't know the year but got the car from a junk yard. Pretty complete car, now without a tranny though.
The door sticker makes it look like these are both 1977? The 78 has been registered as a 1978 for the last 30 years at least.

I have searched and unable to find the info I need so at least I can turn here to the experts for help, and Thanks for that!


I have a 1978 Spider that has the following VIN #
124CS1 0127339
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/6980/SCtgz1.jpg

On the door tag it says 07-77
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/1456/vtfeU5.jpg

Does this mean it really is a 1977?

I also am confused about my other car I got for some parts (transmission)
It is VIN # 124CS1 0130533
On the door tag it says 10-77
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/7254/mhdTo9.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/1703/w51Nzk.jpg

[fillupd]

I'm not sure I posted the images correctly. Sorry

[aj81spider]

The source I have says the '78 model year started with chassis number 126001, making both of your cars '78 models.

If you count the time to ship it over from Italy, prep it and get it on the dealer lot you needed (like today) the model year started being built halfway through the year before. Your chassis number is close to the beginning of the model year, so it would make sense that its date of manufacture was in '77.

[fillupd]

Thanks a bunch.
The help from members on this site never ceases to amaze me.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

The following website might be helpful as well:

https://autoricambi.us/classic-fiat-124 ... ification/

-Bryan

[rdv]

Hi,
the model year changed with the factory holidays in the summer!
So model year 77 ended in 07/1977, model year 78 starts in 08/1977.

The worldwide spider registry got this chassisno for the model year (last and first), the model year change must be between:
1977: 124CS10128397 in 07/1977
1978: 124CS10128632 in 08/1977

A model year identification by VIN started in 1981, so no chance with 17 and 78 Spider models.

Bye, Ralf

[aj81spider]

You probably have better information than I've found. However your starting VIN is higher than the 126001 that is published in other sources I've found.

An easy to find source is on Mirafiori.com in the 124 Spider section in a document titled "124 Model Identification."

The Wikipedia article on the Spider lists the same number and references a PininFarina document as the source.

[DieselSpider]

Globally for many decades the automotive model year runs from August/September to July/August so a car built from August/September 1977 to July/August 1978 will usually be considered a 1978 model. In July of 1977 it would also possible that there were still transmissions, rear axles and such manufactured in 1976 or even earlier still being used on the assembly line to have made 1978 Model Year Vehicles. This is not unique to Fiat and is also true of most other manufacturers. Fiat may also in those years have pulled parts from stock kept for maintaining models from prior years to build new vehicles instead of shutting down production and sending people home.

In recent years there seems to be a trend to start even earlier, shifting model year changeover so it takes place for certain models before August.

Its similar to businesses who have a Physical Year that starts and ends earlier than the actual Calendar Year.