Specification Question

[Guest]

Why can you not find the original vehicle color, interior color, and if convertible the top color/material. When searching for Reatta's, how do you know if it is original ? Also, why are not all VIN numbers, with all "as built" information, such as above, available from Buick? Surely records existed. Lastly, why is there a question on digit #9 of Reatta's base VIN(per the VIN discussion) Someone out there of the handbuilders should know.

[Barney Eaton]

I will try and answer your questions. <BR>In the trunk, on the right side of the spare tire (you must lift the insulation) is a label. This is the Service Parts Identification Label. It has (in code) everything about the car. If you copy the three digit codes to a piece of paper, then go to <A HREF="http://www.reatta.net" TARGET=_blank>www.reatta.net</A> you will find a list of the codes. This will tell you if the car came with a CD player, the color of the pin stripe, even the spring codes. <P>Buick may have had the information but they have either archived it or lack the resorces to help us... probably both. <P>The ninth digit in the VIN is the "check digit", it is actually a deterant to forging the VIN. There is a mathematical formula that establishes this "check digit". If you look at the database of cars, you will note that when we have several serial numbers in sequence, the check digit sequence will be something like 2,4,6,x,0, in no apparant sequence. But there is a mathematical sequence. If someone were to attempt to modify the VIN number of the car, GM and possibly the authorities can tell immediately if it is a authentic VIN number. <P>------------------<BR>Barney Eaton Reatta technical advisor for BCA and keeper of the Reatta database.