My new Sunspot!

[dotthespot]

Just wanted to say "hey" to the other Sunspot owners out there. I am thrilled to own this unique little trailer!

Her name is Dot.

Here are some photos, just paste the link into your browser!

Pamela Ann Skinberg's Photos - Dot the Sunspot | Facebook

 

[SteveC7010]

Pamela, first, welcome to SOC! We're glad you are here!

Your Sunspot looks to be in very good condition, and it's a super find. Best of luck to you with it.

 

[henryj-SUN]

Welcome Pamela!

I had to use Google to find Kimberley. You are in a really nice part of the country with the perfect trailer for mountain travel. We've been through BC a couple of times. I'm a native of AB and have family in several places in BC.

Henry

 

[JohnGB]

Welcome Pamela!

WOW your Sun Spot is a rare find. To be in that good of shape it must of been stored inside a good part of it's life. The outside decals are in great condition unless someone did a great job of touching them up. And the inside is in great shape as well unless someone restored it.

Have fun in your new mini coach.

John

 

[dotthespot]

Thank you Steve!

 

[dotthespot]

Thanks, Henry, I can't wait to get her out!

 

[dotthespot]

Thanks, John. I don't know much about its history other than the last owner really didn't know what he had! He didn't even know it has electric brakes. I'm guessing you don't really need them unless you are towing with a small car.

 

[dotthespot]

Does anybody know where the VIN# is located in the Sunspot? My insurance company says they need to "sight" it, that the reg papers from the previous owner are not sufficient. I can't find it!

 

[Sunline Fan]

Does anybody know where the VIN# is located in the Sunspot? My insurance company says they need to "sight" it, that the reg papers from the previous owner are not sufficient. I can't find it!

You actually posted the VIN in your pictures, on that piece of paper in the closet.

The VIN is indeed ####. As for another location, check the left side of the front coupler. On the back end of the coupler bracket, you should see that same number stamped in there.

Just curious, what year is it titled as? The VIN indicates a 1980, but the striping and logos indicate a 1981-82.

Jon

 

[dotthespot]

Hi, Jon. Hmmm, that's what I thought, it's just that it isn't the same # as the one on the registration (which is a lot longer and has letters as well as numbers. I'm confused. I'll see what I can figure out........ it's titled as an '82. What does all this mean?

Pam.

P.S. I was able to insure it, but they told me to come back if the VIN# is different from the one on the registration. I'm confused!!

 

[Sunline Fan]

Hi Pam,

Hmm, OK.

Here's a little history about the Sunspot. It was introduced in 1978 and was never a huge seller. They kept it around for quite a few years (through 1983 I believe), but sales never picked up. Actual production figures are unknown, but it is believed that there are very few Sunspots in existence, possibly under 100. The majority of them were produced between 1978 and 1980, actually 1980 has the most based on what I know. The later ones I've seen very few of, yours is like one of three I've ever seen in the '81-'82 range.

The VIN history was a little weird. It appears Sunline ordered a grouping of Sunspot frames in 1978 when they started the model. Prior to the 1980 model year, the VIN's were created by simply taking a sequential production number and then following it by last two numbers of a model year. So the 1000th coach built in the 1978 model year would be 100078. Since these frames were ordered and not all were built on, they were eventually built on, mostly in the 1980 MY. Since the frames were already numbered, they added on a zero to the end, so that 1000th unit in 1978 became the 10007th unit in 1980, 1000780, though of course there weren't that many produced.

However, in 1980, new federal regulations came into play that required VIN's to be 17 digits instead of whatever manufacturers wanted. I suspect they must have renumbered the frames for the '80 Sunspots built in late 1979, but once the 1980 calendar year came around, they must have had to redo all the VIN's again.

I'd love to see what the other VIN looks like. It should start with "1LC". I'm particularly interested in how they decided where it would fit in the sequence in the year.

Also, could you confirm that RVIA number listed on that sheet (2668550), is it the same number as on the small oval plaque near the entry door?

If the VIN actually stamped on the tongue (or on an aluminum tag) is the #### and not the 1LC number, you can also remove the sill plate inside the door and there should be an aluminum plate there with the VIN stamped in it.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[dotthespot]

Jon:

Wow! Thank you so much for the incredible information........ that's more than I ever could have hoped for.

So I looked for the VIN on the left front coupler, and there is indeed an aluminum tag which matches the VIN# on the registration (I never would have found it there on my own!). The VIN# is: ####

And yes, the RVIA # on the oval plaque is 2668550.

I'm very interested to learn the background of the Sunspot. I knew only a tiny bit. I was worried that I had paid WAY too much for it, but I don't think so anymore, given the rarity and the condition of the unit. Yes it's tiny, but it's mighty!! I've never seen anything like it before so it's worth the money to me.

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it!

Pam.

 

[Sunline Fan]

So I looked for the VIN on the left front coupler, and there is indeed an aluminum tag which matches the VIN# on the registration (I never would have found it there on my own!). The VIN# is: ####/QUOTE]

Thanks Pam! That does indeed put it as a very late production 1982. I don't know where the actual end was, but it's the last one I know of right now.

I am curious, you have the seventh digit listed as a zero. Can you confirm this is a zero, or is it by chance a C or a D? This digit usually confirmed a range of two feet in which the length of the trailer fit into. Based on how the data goes, C should represent the 10' length of the Sunspot, but this is the first one I've ever seen to know if this would be the case or not.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[dotthespot]

Hi, Jon! Thanks for looking into that for me. The seventh digit is a "0", not a "C" or "D". Does that confound things?

So it's an '82, as far as you can tell. Cool!

 

[Sunline Fan]

Hi, Jon! Thanks for looking into that for me. The seventh digit is a "0", not a "C" or "D". Does that confound things?

So it's an '82, as far as you can tell. Cool!

Hmm, yes it's certainly confuses me now... Not sure why they did this the way they did.

It is certainly an '82, the (17 digit) VIN confirms this as well. As for when it was actually built though, I guess that's anyone's guess. If I had to make some conclusion, I'd say it was probably built in like 1980 and they hung onto it. It's possible they re-skinned it with the updated striping when they were able to sell it to a dealer.

In comparing the sheet in your closet to Marshall's 1980 SS's sheet, the RVIA numbers are only 30 off and the tire serial numbers are very close, actually the letters are all the same and only the numbers differ. Both of these factors tell me that it was done around the same time. The initials on the two sheets, though the same, were written a little differently, so the coaches were clearly probably produced on different days, possibly different weeks, but I feel they were relatively close to one another.

I feel it gained the 1982 title from that being the point when they actually found a dealer willing to buy it.

Just curious, did you ever find the 4155 number stamped into the coupler? I'm curious if that was still there, even though it had another official VIN.

Jon

 

[dotthespot]

No, I never found the other number....... maybe the tag was placed over top of it? I'll look a little bit more closely tomorrow (I stopped looking when I found the VIN). I'll let you know!

Pam.

 

[dotthespot]

Hi again, Jon. It seems pretty likely that they may have added the tag with the new VIN# over top of the old one on the front coupler. I can't find it anywhere else.

Thank you again for the information, things are making a lot more sense now!

Pam.

 

[Kat-SUN]

This is really cute, I have never seen one of these before. Quite a find.

Kat

 

[rebellious78]

Wish I could see the pic's. Facebook is blocked on our work computers.

Dave

 

[kanyonkitty]

Pam,

Welcome to the group and congrats on your purchase of a SunSpot.

This site is so full of info and helpful people, should you have any questions/problems, just ask here and it won't take too long to get help.

Kitty