I have an L7000 water truck and am having difficulty finding out the year for the Department of Motor Vehicles. (You would think they would know with their database). There is a Vin tag on the driver's door which I understand makes it prior to 1981 from reading the threads here but I am unable to find any place that explains the old pre 17 digit Vin numbers. My Vin is R71BVB12416 the next line is 148 C3 R712 8A8 JC N The last line is 2400 710309
Any help would be appreciated as well as any documented sources that I can take with me to the dreaded Calif Dept of Motor Vehicle Dept.

Warmest Regards to All!!

 

Welcome to FTE.

Year of manufacture should be shown on some sticker near or on the data plate on the door. Your title should show year first sold and model year.
Emissions sticker on engine should show model year.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I checked all the places you suggest. There are no stickers. There is no year on the title. Is it possible to get it from the 11 digits of the Vin number???

 

VIN will tell the tale.

No dates...odd.

 

Number Dummy will prob find this thread here in a few. he is the man when it comes to decoding.