VIN numbers

Right upper chassis rail in the engine compartment, just forward of the rear trunk area. Might be filled with paint if that area has been painted.

 

My 1978 (canadian car) does not have etching on the glass.
Joe

 

What do you mean by "DOT etchings" please ? Do you have picture ?

 

Believe the VIN glass etchings were a European phenomenon; not done by the factory. As I have heard it, it was a mandate/recommendation of the insurance companies to combat theft. I don't know if it was a common practice across all the European countries. Also don't know if there was a standard etching font. The pictures I have seen of the etched numbers show them to be fairly large, with the characters being about 1/4" high.

 

I assume he's talking about these. Not sure about a '78, but on a 328 all windows and the windscreen have one.

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I had replied earlier to your initial post. I apologize for misinterpreting your question. There were, indeed, European cars of the era that had their VIN numbers etched into the glass for security measures. This was done by outside companies, not the factory. More directly to your question about DOT etching on the front windshield, my '76 Euro 308GTB has St. Cobain and Euro DOT code etchings on the side glass and rear window. The front windshield is etched in the lower left (driver side) front corner with SIGLA (the windshield manufacturer) as well as Euro DOT code etchings. I am not sure if St. Cobain also supplied windshields, but the 308's I have seen have SIGLA front glass. I do not know if this was the same case carrying through 328 production. However, I would think that your windshield should have manufacturer and DOT etching. Could it be that it is a replacement windshield? You also mention that the car had been repainted. If it was a thorough glass-out respray, is it possible the original windshield was damaged during removal and needed to be replaced? For those with far more knowledge of this please chime in and offer your input as I am very curious as to the most plausible answer. Teasing out the history of these cars can be very tedious, frustrating, and hopefully enlightening. Always good to learn more about them.



,
s

 

Just a tiny, tiny correction here: it is St-Gobain (with a "G") not St-Cobain...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Gobain

Rgds

 

Yes you are right.
This is very common in Europe at that time and most of time this "code" start with the five last digit of the VIN number. And some time in France few cars had the first registration engraved instead of the last digit like my 328GTB #62285 with his first Parisian registration 471-FZA-75.
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Thanks for catching that.

 

Thank you for that information. Very informative.

 

Lee, not a thread but Triple Black's website is awesome highlighting differences between US and Euro market cars. Enjoy:

http://308-328.com/indexen.html

 

Window etchings came much later. My 1978 Euro GT4 has the chassis no (not yet a VIN - that came early 1980) on the steering column, stamped into the upper chassis member on the right back side in the engine compartment, next to the expansion tank, and a chassis plate on the rear of the engine compartment next to the engine stabiliser bar.

 

The etched VIN numbers I have seen have been on the side windows, not the front windscreen - but I will check with someone who knows a lot more than I do!

 

I likely sent the OP's original inquiry in a totally different direction when I brought up the subject of VIN (or registration #) etchings on window glass. I believe his primary concern remains as to whether his windshield should have the windshield manufacturer and DOT etchings as were present from the factory on the side and rear glass. As his windshield has no etching present it presents an interesting question as to why. My guess is that it may not be the original windshield. Hopefully we can help Lee find the answer.

 

May some windscreen were change.. see my photo on my previous message, it is a picture of the windscreen of mine