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GUZZI VIN Decoder

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VIN.jpg

Using the info above, where Y = year as noted below. I, O, Q, U or Z are not used.

A : 1980, 2010
B : 1981, 2011
C :1982, 2012
D : 1983, 2013
E : 1984, 2014
F : 1985, 2015
G : 1986, 2016
H : 1987, 2017
J : 1988, 2018
K : 1989, 2019
L : 1990, 2020
M : 1991, 2021
N : 1992, 2022
P : 1993, 2023
R : 1994, 2024
S : 1995, 2025
T : 1996, 2026
V : 1997, 2027
W : 1998, 2028
X : 1999, 2029
Y : 2000, 2030
1 : 2001, 2031
2 : 2002, 2032
3 : 2003, 2033
4 : 2004, 2034
5 : 2005, 2035
6 : 2006, 2036
7 : 2007, 2037
8 : 2008, 2038
9 : 2009, 2039
 
I just bought a barn find at auction, and I am thrilled about getting it going, but first I need to get it titled. It has a tag on the neck that says "Jan 1972" Then, frame number is 50315, and engine number, on the side of the block, says 50315 VP. I can't seem to find a decoder for this old bird, and I would like to know what I've got. Also, is that all the VIN number there is ? I can't find anything else on the frame, other than "MOTO GUZZI" stamped on the right side by the riveted tag. Any help would be appreciated ! :D

Thanks ! Robert
rwtools@att.net
 
G'day Todd,
The number of my Breva (purchased 2005) has an X for the production date, i.e.:
ZGULP000X5M etc.
This seems to me that they may have continued using alphabetical until 2006.
I assume that my machine was manufactured in 2004 and sold as a 2005 model, or maybe I am a year out in my calculation.

Cheers
Brian
 
MotoWally said:
I just bought a barn find at auction, and I am thrilled about getting it going, but first I need to get it titled. It has a tag on the neck that says "Jan 1972" Then, frame number is 50315, and engine number, on the side of the block, says 50315 VP. I can't seem to find a decoder for this old bird, and I would like to know what I've got. Also, is that all the VIN number there is ? I can't find anything else on the frame, other than "MOTO GUZZI" stamped on the right side by the riveted tag. Any help would be appreciated ! :D

Thanks ! Robert
rwtools@att.net

Guzzi only used a serial number for many years. I don't think they went to VIN until late 70s or 1980s. Congratulations on finding a matching number barn find. Which bike were you luck enough to acquire? If she has been sitting for awhile there are some things that need special attention for that vintage machine. Ask your questions in the Tonti and Loop section.
 
Thanks for the decoder! Handy to understand.

I do remember when there was nothing but a serial number. I remember the serial number on the '64 Lamborghini 350GT I owned in the 1970s ... "0102" : Series 01, chassis 02. Simple. The engine was similar: 0111 ... series 01, number 11. Gosh, that was a long long time ago.
 
My ultra-factory-fresh V9 Bobber has VIN ZGULHH004JM0005XX. I suppose they skipped the 'I' as MY2018 identifier. Or they are well on schedule with the 2019 production...
 
View attachment 2068

Using the info above, where Y = year as noted below. I, O, Q, U or Z are not used.

A : 1980, 2010
B : 1981, 2011
C :1982, 2012
D : 1983, 2013
E : 1984, 2014
F : 1985, 2015
G : 1986, 2016
H : 1987, 2017
J : 1988, 2018
K : 1989, 2019
L : 1990, 2020
M : 1991, 2021
N : 1992, 2022
P : 1993, 2023
R : 1994, 2024
S : 1995, 2025
T : 1996, 2026
V : 1997, 2027
W : 1998, 2028
X : 1999, 2029
Y : 2000, 2030
1 : 2001, 2031
2 : 2002, 2032
3 : 2003, 2033
4 : 2004, 2034
5 : 2005, 2035
6 : 2006, 2036
7 : 2007, 2037
8 : 2008, 2038
9 : 2009, 2039
I need help validating that my lemans is what it is what it is. The vin # on the frame is 71081 manufacturing date March 1976, the title has VP71081. But no engine#
 
I need help validating that my lemans is what it is what it is. The vin # on the frame is 71081 manufacturing date March 1976, the title has VP71081. But no engine#
The date on the frame makes the bike a 1976 model year. As to the engine number, I suggest you contact Piaggio as I don't know of any database on engine numbers. BTW, in that era, Moto Guzzi didn't use VIN, just serial number.
 
The date on the frame makes the bike a 1976 model year. As to the engine number, I suggest you contact Piaggio as I don't know of any database on engine numbers. BTW, in that era, Moto Guzzi didn't use VIN, just serial number.
Does it make it a lemans?
 
In my search for clarity on the the pile of parts I have acquired I stumbled onto this thread, which has helped, but still I have a question.

Has there been a list compiled of what the model (4th and 5th characters) and the version variation (6th, 7th, and 8th characters) actually stand for?

This thread seems to hold more information than anywhere else but details I'm curious about for my '84 don't seem to appear anywhere.

That bike shows ZGUVRAVR (the redundancy still makes me laugh) so I wonder what it was and how many of those parts I wound up with that are still serviceable.

Seems that I'm more likely to be able to faithfully restore the '76 and the '84 will wind up a mutt.
 
Has there been a list compiled of what the model (4th and 5th characters) and the version variation (6th, 7th, and 8th characters) actually stand for?

No.

There are not many models each year.

I fail to see what your issue is or what you cannot seem to understand. 🤷‍♂️
 
Uh...
The alphabet soup of a decades old VIN?
Thanks for the meaningful answer.
Charmed, I'm sure.

Wow.

Regretting it... I alone answered your question.

I also told you that there were very limited models and production. There are not several variants and Moto Guzzi has never published VIN information to the public. Same as they never post paint codes.

Moto Guzzi is a hand-builder of motorcycles. Small production.

You obviously don't like truthful meaningful answers.


You wrote elsewhere:

Until I looked at the titles I have here I hadn't realized the Italian's didn't use a full VIN in the 70s.
It appears that overall the entire identification thing for Moto Guzzi for a long time was total chaos. Maybe there was a bit too much Chianti flowing at lunch there for a while?!

There was no chaos and Moto Guzzi isn't drunk or incompetent. You just don't know what you are talking about.

17 digit VIN numbers weren't invented until 1981.

Nevertheless, you still haven't stated what it is specifically that you are trying to discover.

I think you are making a tempest in a teacup for yourself.

I think your comments demonstrate that you are ungrateful for my help and unkind to boot.

Nice.

🤷‍♂️
 
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Sorry to offend but anyone who knows me knows you are way off base.

I know most manufacturers weren't commanded to use full VINs until the early 80s and MG doesn't care about paint but that still doesn't speak to how haphazard ID recording for them (or anyone else) was from 1974-1984 when my bike (pieces) were produced.
I've wrenched on all sorts of vehicles (even professionally for a bit) for 35+ years so I know well what I am asking about.
I did ask specifically if there was a thorough VIN decoder (which I haven't found- and you said no) or even more important to me, what exactly a VR in a VIN meant.
Just trying to work on faithfully restoring at least one machine from the three frames, 9 wheels, and 23 crates of jumbled parts overwhelming my workshop and looked like the easiest would be the one that didn't have merely a serial #.

I'm not sorry however to not appreciate a comment that is terse and not helpful, which is all you supplied actually.

I'm new, I get it.
I can do better on my own it appears.
 
God you make stupid statements then double down on your incorrectness.

I've been associated with Moto Guzzi for 50+ years. My personal library has over 100 books on Moto Guzzi, many in Italian.

The factory has excellent records. They have a historical records department.

You just have to pay them for the archival research.

I would give you the information about it but you can get it yourself.
 
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To contibute something useful here there is a loose compilation of VIN characters compiled by Mr. Bender that I finally located.
Maybe this will filter higher in someone else's search in the future for similar detail.
I've resorted this by VIN model designation characters alphabetically.

Regardless of year these seem to be accurate but do get confusing with some models based on serial # within a run.
I may have missed something.

VC - 850 T
VD - 850 T3, Cali, or T4 w/serial #s intermixed
VE - 850 LeMans I (pre17311 ser#) or II (post17312)
VF - 850 Le Mans III
VG - 1000 I, CONVERT, G5, SP
VH - 1000 SP II, GT
VN - Strada
VR - 850 T5
VT - Cali III, Mille GT
VU - CX100
VV - Le Mans IV, V
VW - Cali III carbd
VY - Cali III injected
WM - V11
YM - Jackal/ Bassa

Looks like the bare frame '84 I have was a T5
 
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