Serial Numbers
Serial numbers can be used to identify the year a particular model may have been produced. I say may because
the rule doesnt always hold true.
In general, the first digit of the serial number is also the year produced. A bike with a serial number of 3425684
would have been made in 1973. Nine out of 10 times this holds true. You may be asking, "how do you know its
not 1963 or 1983?" Again, in general, bikes from the 60's have a 6-digit number, 70's models have 7 digits and,
as I'm sure you've figured out by now, 80's models have 8 digits. Peugeot changed decal schemes very
frequently. Changes in decals, along with component changes, make it easy to narrow down a models year of
production to within 2 or 3 years without a serial number.
For bikes produced in the 50's, 60's and early seventies its more difficult to date them because Peugeot didnt
change decals or components often. Some models were identical in every way for a period of several years. For
those models it takes not only the serial number but a keen memory if you were the original owner or knew the
owner.
Some time around 1980 Peugeot labeled bikes with a small paper sticker. This sticker has the alphanumeric
model, size, possibly a color code and a model specific serial number. I say model specific because these models
also have a frame specific number. A frame specific number would be Y204 12345678. At the time of this writing
its not known what these numbers mean. Y204 may be the date code with 2 being the year and 04 being the
month the frame was built, not the bike. 204 may also be 2 for the year with 04 being a frame material code.
There are many frames with YX03 stickers and YX01 stickers which may be for Carbolite 103 tubing and Reynolds
501 respectively. It doesnt make sense that Peugeot would only produce frames during the first few months of the
year then shut down for the rest of the year.
Below you'll find examples and brief interpretation of serial numbers.
Serial numbers can be used to identify the year a particular model may have been produced. I say may because
the rule doesnt always hold true.
In general, the first digit of the serial number is also the year produced. A bike with a serial number of 3425684
would have been made in 1973. Nine out of 10 times this holds true. You may be asking, "how do you know its
not 1963 or 1983?" Again, in general, bikes from the 60's have a 6-digit number, 70's models have 7 digits and,
as I'm sure you've figured out by now, 80's models have 8 digits. Peugeot changed decal schemes very
frequently. Changes in decals, along with component changes, make it easy to narrow down a models year of
production to within 2 or 3 years without a serial number.
For bikes produced in the 50's, 60's and early seventies its more difficult to date them because Peugeot didnt
change decals or components often. Some models were identical in every way for a period of several years. For
those models it takes not only the serial number but a keen memory if you were the original owner or knew the
owner.
Some time around 1980 Peugeot labeled bikes with a small paper sticker. This sticker has the alphanumeric
model, size, possibly a color code and a model specific serial number. I say model specific because these models
also have a frame specific number. A frame specific number would be Y204 12345678. At the time of this writing
its not known what these numbers mean. Y204 may be the date code with 2 being the year and 04 being the
month the frame was built, not the bike. 204 may also be 2 for the year with 04 being a frame material code.
There are many frames with YX03 stickers and YX01 stickers which may be for Carbolite 103 tubing and Reynolds
501 respectively. It doesnt make sense that Peugeot would only produce frames during the first few months of the
year then shut down for the rest of the year.
Below you'll find examples and brief interpretation of serial numbers.
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| Cycles Peugeot |
| The following numbers are from a 1985 P18 mixte, As you can see there's a paper sticker and a stamped number. As noted earliet the stamped serial number is 8 digits. The sticker breaks down as: P18=model Click image Click Image T=handlebar type BU=unknown or burgundy 53=frame size in CM |
| The following numbers are from a know 1984 P8. Again, theres a paper sticker along with stamped serial number. The breakdown is as follows: P8=model 60=frame size in CM Click image Click image 3393109=model serial number |
| The following numbers are from my 1982 100th anniversry PH12. Its interesting that the stamped serial matches the sequential number on the paper sticker. This is the only Peugeot with this unique numbering. The breakdown is as follows: PH12=model Click image Click image 54=frame size in cm 2153910 |
| Date Codes Component date codes are helpful in determining a models year. On occasion serial numbers and decal schemes aren't helpful or only narrow the date to within a few years. Date codes are simply stampings on various components that date their manufacture. codes vary with manufacturer. Older models may have NO codes while newer models have many. Codes can be found on cranks, hubs, rims, stems and other components. A good source for interpreting comppnent date codes is the Vintage Trek website. VintageTrek |
| SR crank code 1982 PH12 82 C March 1982 |
| AVA rim code? 1967? Peugeot 2 66 Feb. 1966 D. Alberts photo |
| Stem date code 1982 PH12 03 1982 March 1982 |
| Hub date code 1982 PH12 14 82 14th week 1982 |
CLICK IMAGES
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