VINs and Build Numbers May Vary

For almost all true Clenets, there is a number plate on the outside of the vehicle, on the door, on the body, or sometimes even on the hood. It may read 63/250 (meaning the 63rd car built out of 250 Series I cars planned) or perhaps 14/500 (meaning the 14th car built out of 500 Series III cars planned). This number may be called the production sequence number or build number; both terms have been used.

In many cases, this build number matches the last few digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) required by governments to identify the specific car. But VIN CLE-80-2072 is Series II Car 69/250. Why?

Series III Car 10/500 is the 10th Series III Asha built of 500 planned. The last few numbers of its VIN are 00010. That's logical. Series III Car 51 has a VIN ending in 30051. That's logical. But Series III Car 52 has a VIN ending in 43. Why?

Some of the earliest Clenets had VINs that did not begin "CLE-". Instead, they began "DMV", short for "Department of Motor Vehicles", and ended with "CA", short for California.

Almost none of the build numbers in Series I Clenets match their VINs. Here are some examples:

Clenet Series I Numbering
VIN Build Number Difference
DMV53334CA 13 -
CLE-77-1018 ? 18 Digit illegible
DMV53341CA 20 -
DMV5336_CA ? 21 Digit missing
DMV53348CA 22 -
DMV53343CA 24 -
CLE-77-1005 32 27
CLE-78-1017 42 25
CLE-78-1027 51 24
CLE-78-1028 52 24
CLE-78-1032 56 24
CLE-78-1035 59 24
CLE-78-1044 68 24
CLE-78-1051 75 24
CLE-78-1063 88 25
CLE-78-1064 89 25
CLE-79-1090 115 25
CLE-79-1098 123 25
CLE-79-1104 129 25
CLE-79-1108 ?
133 25
CLE-79-1114 139 25
CLE-79-1116 141 25
CLE-79-1117 142 25
CLE-79-1127 152 25
CLE-79-1132 157 25
CLE-79-1142 167 25
CLE-79-1143 168 25
CLE-79-1149 174 25
CLE-79-1155 180 25
CLE-79-1162 187 25
CLE-79-1166 ?
191 25
CLE-79-1169 194 25
CLE-79-1173 198 25
CLE-79-1175 200 25
CLE-79-1177 202 25
CLE-79-1187 212 25
CLE-79-1191 216 25
CLE-79-1197 222 25
CLE-79-1202 ?
227 25
CLE-79-1203
228 25
CLE-79-1204 229 25
CLE-79-1207 232 25
CLE-79-1210 235 25
CLE-79-1219 244 25


If you own a Clenet, especially a Series I, you can help improve our understanding of this mystery. Take photos of your build number plate outside the car and the official plates beside the engine, door, etc., and send them to info@dimoramotorcar.com. (And also send some high resolution photos of your Clenet, please!)

 

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