Can the date of manufacture be derived from the VIN?

[steph_c]

Hi all:

 

Owner of a 97 Legacy Sedan, 141k miles and still very pleased. A bone-head error on my part has rendered my A/C condenser leaky, and I am in the process of tracking down a new one.

 

I have been presented with the following question:

 

Manufactured before 4/97, or after?

 

Now, I have found a few sites that do a good job of explaining how to interpret a Subaru VIN, including:

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/vin.html

 

and

 

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=1vulkj9ln4j0m?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Subaru+VIN+codes&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1&sbid=lc04b

 

Even after examining these decoders, I have no idea whether or not my car was produced before 4/97 or afterwards.

 

Or can I assume that model year 1998 started May 1997, and that by default my car would have been produced sometime between 5/96-4/97?

 

Cheers and many thanks,

Steph

[steph_c]

Never Mind! This crafty message board already has provided me with a link to the answer: look inside the door jam.

 

Cheers.