http://www.purepolaris.com/en-us/Sno...earch-VIN.aspx

Its right on a Polaris web site. It says enter a 17 digit VIN which I don't think Polaris used until around 1997 but the older 7 digit VIN's work as well.
It tells original buyers name (could be helpful since that person could probably file for a lost title), selling dealer, Sales date and a few other things. I found quite a few interesting things. All 5 of mine are 1986's. I have 3 of them with silver tank / clutch cover badges and 2 with gold. The gold ones also have a faded brown gas tank, where the silver badges have a nice black tank. I figured gold were 85 and silver were 86, well I figured wrong. lol. By searching the net I was able to find an online VIN for an 85 and it decodes as a 85 so its not like the decoder just says they are all 86s. From what I've seen the 1986 VINs start with a 130 and the 1985s start with a 121. I'm wondering if the 85s are going to be a rare find. We'll have to see if any show up here. I know early ones had a wire heat shield and said AUTOMATIC on the clutch cover instead of PVT. I'm wondering if maybe all 85s are like that.
There is also a tab for safety & service bulletins. All of mine have this listed. ATV-86-03 - EXPIRED - REVERSE SPD LIMITER
I've read on here that some Scramblers did have the reverse override button but I think those were probably added at the dealer level and not the factory, none of mine have it.
All of mine are 1986s but the sales dates range from December of 1985 to October of 1987. They also list a warranty end date which is exactly 6 months after the sales date. All of mine have warranty listed like that except the one sold in October of 1987. That warranty ends on the same day it was sold, I'd say that indicated no warranty. And that one also has the buyers name listed as Obsolete Dealer Inventory. I am thinking by late 1987 it was still at the dealer and maybe Polaris got that one back? If thats the case I'm not sure how it got out. I bought this one from Captain Weezy. Lets see what others come up with.