What year is my 444?

[gearhead]

How can I find out what year my 444 is? The VIN tag is not on the machine where Barrie said it should be. There is a picture of it in "Friends and their Diablos & Hus-Skis" I can get it registered w/out a VIN but I need to know what year it is. Thanks Gearhead

[Barrie2777]

Without a serial number all I can say is it is a 444 from either 66 or 67. The serial number is only definitive about the year when the number is very low or very high...very low is the frist year, very high indicates second year of production. If we knew how many machines were produced each year then we would know from which year your macine is from.

[Go Go Diablo]

Here is something interesting. Last month, I sandblasted the black handlebar part of a 444 and I noticed after I sandblasted it, I could tell right where the serial number sticker was. I bet if I looked prior and did some very sensitive detective work, you might find that even though the serial number decal is gone, a blemish on the paint might still show the original serial number.

Kind of like writing on a pad of paper and then removing the top sheet. Left behind on the page underneath is a trace of what was written on the front page.

Good luck,

Bruce

[gearhead]

Thanks Barrie. That all I need to know to get it registered, but if you ever find out the serial # cut off between 1966 and 1967 it would be nice to know!
gearhead

[gearhead]

Bruce-thanks to you also! Do you remember where that sticker was located? Was it under the cowling next to the gas tank?

gearhead

[Go Go Diablo]

Yes it was. If you were sitting on the ski seater, it would have been to the right of the gas tank on the vertical black sheet metal piece of the handle bar assembly.

[gearhead]

Bruce
I'll check it out.Thanks for the info.
gearhead