Chassis build number plate?

Am starting to get my coupe sorted, and get it back on the road.

I have been sorting out the boot area and have found a small (2 inch ish long) welded plate on the right hand side boot floor with a six digit stamped number on it, in my case 000879.

I am assuming this is some sort of manufacturer build number for the chassis type?
If So I own the 879th 20vt built?

Or is it not as simple as that...I know my car is an early 20vt built late 96 and registered in February 97. So this number kind of makes sense?

It's the build number, but it might just be the build number for right hand drive cars... mine is something like 000126, for October 95 delivery. The car had been on sale in the continent for a year by then.

This is interesting. Does Anyone have any info on the build process?
Did fiat build the floorpan and pininfarina put them together?

I see, so this could be a R/H drive chassis build number, not model specific number.

Would be interesting to have a mooch round a L/H drive coupe to see if there is a plate on the left side boot floor.

Had a look for my build number tonight, it's 000010, so I guess pretty much the first 20vt off the production line, but actually, I wonder what differences there are (if any?) in a 20v/20vt bodyt shell compared to a 16v/16vt...engine/exhaust mounting points maybe, what else?

16v has thicker steel than the 20v, according to Joe.

Even better getting a 20vt then, lighter AND more powerful

And more rusty!

20vt - the car with added hole!

According to Eper the body shell weighs exactly the same for all 16v and 20v versions, 220KG with sunroof and 223KG without sunroof.

Glad I've got a sunroof then

Sunroof itself weighs 9KG though.

Ah whats 6kg when you can use it for extra downforce when you fit the special secret speed module to open the sunroof at 68mph which will then close at 50mph works great