This is just a guess, although the tag mentions compliance with "Federal safety and bumper standards" perhaps the cars original destination might not have been the US. The country where it was first sold may have had some rules about the VIN that required the differences Larry has pointed out; i.e. the WDB in front of the VIN and the number 4 instead of the letter M. That's a weak explanation, I'm not even convinced, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
#3866 was in Sweden at the time of Bill Van Ess' registry.
Chuck (Melton) have you seen the WDB ahead of the VIN previously?
-G
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