Vin, data plate questions

Maybe we can figure this out by comparing and evaluating serial numbers
from sleds from the same years.

My Stinger I 293 narrow track has 2-13410
ddubs Stinger I wt 440 has 2-10752

The first number could be model year 2 for 72 (I will check my 72 Stinger II tomorrow)
The second number could indicate the model ,1 for stinger I as both sleds match on the first
and second numbers (both being 72 Stinger I's one a wide track ,one a narrow track)

71 Stinger III 1-18102
71 Superstinger 1-28213

My two 71 Scorpions both start with the 1 possibly indicating model year of 71
the second number could be the model range Stinger III with a 1 and a
Superstinger with a 2 ,will check out the numbers on a 71 Stinger II at the farm
to see what numbers match and what are different.

Tomorrow I will post 77 Whip and 77 Lilwhip .
I will also post the serial number for a 68 Mark I so it can be compared to .

I know that the serial numbers did not mean much at the point of new sale
other than to register warranty , licence the vehicle and make the sale legal.

From what I have been told, they only thing that "designates" anything on the scorpions serial number is the first number. That indicates the year. I am sure the rest of the number would indicate some sort of production order, but from what I've been told nothing more than that.

Scorpion was not real good about keeping these type of records. Not like some where you can learn a lot about a sled through the serial number.

On further research I believe that it is a 1970 Mark I since they were basically unchanged
from 68 to 70(the Mark I's)all the other models had the new flip hood .

A post from krashusmc on another thread was related to this thread so I thought I would paste it below,

ddub asked two specific questions:

What information can be broken down by the serial number?
Read more: scorpionsleds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=post&thread=94&page=1#ixzz2Q5fbodRR

Lets use this thread to diagnose the Vins of Scorps.
Read more: scorpionsleds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=post&thread=94&page=1#ixzz2Q5fbodRR

After reading through the patterns that some of you have noticed, it appears we can also discover production numbers as well.

If the SN is X-ABCDE. And the X is the year, and the A is the model, then the BCDE would be production numer...yes? If so, then if B is zero, then less than a thousand were made...yes?

This would be important because many folks suggest we know very little about production numbers per model. Maybe, if we can compile enough Serial Numbers, then we also will learn production numbers.

That is alot of "ifs". But a good challenge and a good thing to geek up.

With Scorpion, I don't think it worked that way. The number would indicate the sequence they came off the line, but I am pretty sure model cannot be deduced from the serial number.

From all I have been told, the production runs built a variety of models in a variety of orders. Serial numbers (other than the first digit) were sequential. Even the bullwhip numbers fit into that sequence, they just happen to fall into a narrow band of build numbers as they were built at once.

Other manufacturers were different. Some you could even tell what the engine / trim level was by the serial number.

Ok, here are some more numbers from my Scorpion tradings... The pattern from 1971-72 continues through 1973-74. Notice the production date and SN are another illustration it is NOT sequential as the July '74 number is smaller than Dec '73 number.

1973 Super Stinger 3-52452
1974 Super Stinger 4-73554
1974 Super Stinger 4-73886 production date 12/73
1974 Super Stinger 4-65131 production date 7/74

NOTE: the July 1974 production number seems like it should be a model year 1975, but that is what the tag has stamped on it. So, again, I say we should encourage more numbers to continue this idea until a so called conclusion is found.

Keep the numbers coming in, eh.

For us to know for sure, we would need SN and production dates from the tags.

Notice the production date and sequence of the two 1974 examples...If we assume the stamped tag is correct, then the sequence is backwards. But if we agree with scorp11 and the tag is an error, then his theory could be correct. But, then I would ask, how many more tags are in error...?

At any rate, more tag numbers and production dates will help solve the pattern... I say keep the numbers coming.

stinger III pledged to offer some numbers from his '77 whips.

Now for some more numbers from the same post.

7-105393 - 77 Whip
7-109669 - 77 Range Whip
7-111914 - 77 Range Whip Sting

That right there says the second number isn't the model as they all have 1 as the second number. At least in 1977. It appears very clear, looking at these numbers the only number that indicates anything is the first one. But with other models / year you may not find build numbes that hit the hundred thousand boundry. Which is what it takes to show that the first number is not the model. Probably even more true with the older models.

What does it say ? Looks like Bullwhips were in the ballpark of between 7-109970 and 7-110154. IF the numbers are sequential, we have not accounted for more than 200 bullwhips, so the prevailing "theory" that there were only 200 bullwhips built has not been dis-proven as we have only 184 in the range.

What you may find is numbers may not be in set ranges either. Like I said I never had anyone tell me if there were or were not multiple lines. Serial numbers with build dates won't even tell that if there were multiple lines.

You may also be able to get an idea on what they may have started at within a given year.

And as with any statistical analysis you will have some anomalies. Some like the 74 Stinger with a 7/74 build date are pretty easy to dismiss by applying a little common sense logic. Others will not be.

I have never seen a 1981 serial numbered sled other than a Sidewinder. I looked for 3 years as the Scorpion Reunion. They sold sleds in 1981. Does that mean (as many have said) that the 81's were all built in 1980 ? The 1980's were supposedly built in Thief River, did Cat change the numbering scheme then ? Or, were there just none there.

Hopefully you can understand how it will be very hard to draw the absolute positives you want from just the numbers. Like I said I have spoken with many who were involved at the time and still have more questions than answers.