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How do I tell if I have an authentic Flathood?...

... is one of the most common questions asked on mailing list, message boards, etc.. when talking about the 83 special edition. And im pretty sure there is even more speculation about the "quick" ways to verify. Ultimately the only way you can truly tell is by submitting your information to the vcoa special edition coordinator Ray Parsons. You can get him contact info off www.vcoa.org However, with some input from around the world there has been a slight set of standards we've all found in the cars.
The assumption at this point is as follows:

You have a 90% chance of having an original flathood if:

  1. You have a 6 digit VIC code
  2. the VIN# denotes that the car was made in 1983 at "Volvo Europe" factory
  3. the chassis number is between 223940 and 237369

Now, in the case where the cars info you're looking at doesn't fall between these standards, that doesn't mean its not real... go ahead and check it out with the registrar and if it is real... shoot me an e-mail with the new info to change and modify this calculation.

Other observations:

There has also been a few other things that flathood owners have been able to spot that were common to multiple flathoods.

  • The first that has been the most common is a option code I believe on the strut tower starting with an "S" (i.e. mine is S02476).
  • Another common thing was a presence of what seems to be a few strips of silver tape stuck to the under side of the hood above the turbo (image). Some still have it, others find the residue left over. Im not exactly sure what its purpose was, but I would assume it was for either insulation or for heat emissions since the turbo was now running a higher psi then the non-intercooled ones.
  • One of the other more rare findings was a "homologation" stamp from the FIA on the upper radiator support - stamped 001-500. I have not seen this yet.

VIN/VIC translation:

ok, heres some short info on VIN translating... im not going to throw in all the stuff for 240's I'll just deal specifically with the 83 242's.

First thing is to break up the VIN so we can translate it. We'll use the VIN from my first flathood:
YV1-A-X-47-2-5-D-2-235111
broken apart you get:
YV1 = Manufacturer Code (Volvo)
A = Series (A for 240, B for 260 - in '83 it specified "240 DL/GL/GLT body)
X = is not used until 86 (for safety system notation)
47 = engine type (47 is for the B21FT)
2 = body (2 door not coupe, standard wheelbase)
5 = is a "check digit" not sure what numbers this is factored from, but is supposed to be calculated from other digits
D = model year code (D is 1983)
2 = manufacturing plant (2 is noted as "=Volvo Europe")
235111 = chassis number (in '83 they started at chassis number 223940 and im guessing ended at 237369 since they started with 237370 in 84 for 242's)

ok, now when compared to my current flathoods VIN,
YV1-A-X-47-2-5-D-2-235111 old blue one
YV1-A-X-47-2-4-D-2-235858 new silver one
we come up with a different "check digit" (beats me, maybe someone can help) and chassis number of course (note that they are 747 cars apart, so the "500" where not made sequentially)

There is also a VIC number in the trunk (near the right side of the rear window in the frame work) on sedans which provides additional info about the options the car has/supposed to have like trim level, sales model, body model, transmission, and others... from the translation key I have it would be something like this for all flathoods:
242-4706-421
.. meaning:
24 = 240 series
2 = doors
47 = engine code (same as vin)
06 = sales model (GLT)
4 = body model (w/ sunroof)
2 = transmission (2 for M46 and I think the autos had a AW70/71 which would make this a 7)
1 = other features (1 is left-hand drive) - now here is where I want to find this code, i.e. 3 is for the "taxi" package, 7 is the "special package" like police.. However one of the other turbobricks members has a VIC code of 242477 denoting that its a "special package".


upper strut tower


drivers side door


inside trunk area

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