Chris - The tenth digit in the vin denotes the year built. I'll have to look up what the rest of it means.

Here -
1-2 Country code
2-3 Manufacturer
4-8 equipment codes
9 - check digit
10- model year
11 - manufacturing plant
12-17 serial number

the explanation of 1-3 bothers me a bit, I'll try and get further clarification. There is no hour built? I know that.