Anyone know how to decode a vin??? 1971 CJ5??

I bought what I was first told was a 1970 Jeep CJ5 Renegade 1. I picked it up this weekend, the title says 1971. Were there Renegade 1's made in 1971? Its purple, Dauntless V-6, manual trans, locking rear end, Kelsey Hayes steel wheels, gauges, 73,000 miles, but engine and trans were rebuilt not that long ago. The vin number is 366313. Very old small rectangular title. Just curious if anyone could tell me where it was built, I'm guessing Toledo, OH, I'm from Michigan, and I bought it from southeastern Michigan. Also still looking for new rear side quarters with the recessed area above the rear quarter panels, which I think was pretty common through the 50's,60's and early 70's. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I had to leave it at my dads house about 2hrs from me since the tires were the second replacements to the originals, or could even be the originals, severly dry rotted, so I wasn't going to chance it with a tow dolly on the highway. I'll have pics next weekend when I bring her home. Thanks guys, Talk to ya later,
Mike

 

the serial should be
8305 017 366313

Which means it is a cj5 with a V6 and the unique serial is 366313.

My information for that year is sketchy, but it was built right around the model year change over. Not that jeep actually changed anything from year-to-year on those old jeeps. It is going to be either a late '70 model or a '71 model.

It should probably have a flanged rear axle. Also, there should be some sort of emissions control decal on the grille. That may give a better approximation of when the jeep was made.

 

I thought the gas tank move came in the middle of '70, so an under-seat tank would definitely mean it's a '70.

 

Good point and I believe the plum color was not a Renegade color in '71, only orange, green and yellow (called something fancier).

 

was it a winch or a wench?? if it was a wench, what was her name R) R)

 

It is definitely the purple color, no doubt about that. Its original, gauge panel, under dash, everything is purple, the stickers are still on the hood pretty severly faded, but definitely Renegade 1 stickers. According to him it was a 1970........Also, it has a toolbox area under the passenger seat, rear mounted fuel tank. If that helps. I'll definitely add pictures as soon as I get it up here. Positive its the original purple paint job. According to him he bought it with that color, and never has had it repainted. I'm confused....... :? I'll get the complete vin also, including the first part, the 366313 is all that is on the title. Thanks guys,
Mike

 

There was a thread on VIN numbers (titled "VIN Numbers") that helped me narrow one of my Jeeps to the approximate month it was built. Alot of members posted the build months and VINs of their Jeeps. I don't know anything about the color options, but a look at this thread may help ID the build month.

 

Not to worry, just about everything mentioned thus far is consistent with a '70 Renegade 1; plum color, rear mounted gas tank (late '70 model year), KH 15"x8" wheels, etc. Take a look at the Renegade section that Sparky mentioned for more information on what separates a Renegade from a standard CJ5. An excellent picture of a plum R1 used to be posted here. Maybe another forum member can dig it up for you. Curious about the under dash gauges you mentioned though. This sounds like something that was added by the PO. Don't expect to get any more information from the other numbers from the VIN. They will only describe the CJ model (5, 6, etc.), engine, smog, etc. The Renegade did not have a special designation in the VIN like the Tuxedo Park.