Can someone explain how to interpret VIN's? specifically, which portions correspond to build dates, and what might some of those be?

 

so a search ; much had been written about this pre-pre-order delivery and it waned as they started getting to dealers. Basically the 9th digit is a check digit, the last 5 are the sequential number more or less having to do with build sequence; earliest VINs to hit here were in the upper 004xx range - mine was 01129. First 3 = Mazda (JM1) and next 2 are body style FE, and there's a bit more to it.