In Search of Early VIN's

[oakmont]

Hey MUD,

For no particular reason, I’m on a mission to track down the history of the earliest 100-series rollouts in the United States. I currently own a 1998 Land Cruiser with the sequence number 0001413. Based on my tracking, this puts my truck firmly in the initial January 1998 launch batch. Since the North American VIN pool was shared chronologically with the Lexus LX 470, Canadian allocations, and Puerto Rican builds, I’m trying to see just how many U.S.-spec Land Cruisers are left that rolled off the ARACO line before mine.
If you have an ultra-low VIN ’98, please chime in.

Cheers,

Oakmont

 

[excessive]

my 1998 VIN ends in 0003608 Build Date 02/98
Truck has 305k miles and going strong

 

[Super77]

If anyone here has a CarFax subscription, could they theoretically punch in some low VINs to see whether those vehicles have been recently registered? I have no idea what CarFax ToS are, so not suggesting anything improper. AFAIK, subscription holders have unlimited search access.

 

[fl4031003]

Ordered my 98 in January received it a few months later 0009285

 

[hoser]

Best guess of earliest North American VIN is from the early recalls and service campaigns.

So, I'm guessing around "1010"

 

[Trapper50cal]

Mine was built in September of '98 and is classified as a '99 so IDK if it's desired info but
mine ends in 0027520. I know the rare thing about it is the cloth interior.

 

[rbrave]

This is a fun one. My VIN ends in 18077, build date of 6/98.

Question for early VIN owners - I realized recently that my LC doesn’t have a AC condenser fan. How well does yours cool when it gets above 95 or so? Mine is ice cold below that and struggles above.

 

[oakmont]

Hoser,

Great information. Great find. I suspected that the North American VIN probably didn't start at 000001. Very cool to know.

Oakmont

 

[hoser]

This is a fun one. My VIN ends in 18077, build date of 6/98.

Question for early VIN owners - I realized recently that my LC doesn’t have a AC condenser fan. How well does yours cool when it gets above 95 or so? Mine is ice cold below that and struggles above.

No rear AC, no condenser fan.

 

[darrenk]

my 1998 VIN ends in 0003608 Build Date 02/98
Truck has 305k miles and going strong

Mine is VERY close to yours. 02/98 003651 Canada spec unit.

 

[oakmont]

rbrave,

I have the same cooling issues. My 98 does not have the AC condenser fan or rear AC.

 

[ed94r]

06/98 W0019004.