I have stated on the forum previously that in my opinion, the stamped date on data cards from the Classic Center microfilm files are only an approximation. Mike Simon indicates the stamp on his card coincides with the initial registration date. It was a German registration and the actual manufacturing date would have been earlier. I don’t know what our technical manual indicates for his particular VIN number.
In the case of my car, it was delivered to me at the factory on February 12, 1969. The data cards that came with the car had no date stamps but our technical manual indicates January 1969 as the manufacturing date for my VIN. During the period that the Classic Center was providing data cards free of charge, I requested a copy thinking that I might get a more precise date than the January, 1969, date provided by our technical manual. The number “4” copy of the card they provided included a date stamp of February 24, 1969, 12 days after actual delivery of the car. Based on this I surmised that the date stamp was put on a copy of the data card as part of an administrative procedure at the factory shortly after production and that the stamp date does not represent the actual manufacturing date. Based on my experience, I think the dates in our technical manual are likely as close as one will get to the actual manufacturing date.
I don’t know if the date stamp on the data cards in Classic Center microfilm files was always on a number “4” card. Cards number 1, 2, and 3 plus a couple of extra pink cards came with the car. No number “4” card.