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VW Chassis Numbers

VW Chassis NumbersWhat is a Chassis Number and why does it matter?

Fundamentally, a VW chassis number is your Vehicle’s Identification Number. But, more important to a VW enthusiast is that knowing the number(s) of your vehicle will enable you to correctly identify the production year (and sometimes month) of your car which, in turn, enables you to deduce what parts, options, features, and modifications are appropriate for it. VW used to introduce improvements into their cars when they were ready, and didn’t wait until the next “model year” to implement them. For example, early 1973 Beetles and Supers had a generator and fuel pump (and pushrod) that was DIFFERENT from the mid 73′ and newer cars (alternator equipped).

The chassis number is typically located in more than one place on VWs, and those locations may change depending on the production year. One of the ways that Type 1 VW’s are unique from the unibody vehicles of today is that the body and chassis were separate and interchangeable components. Over the years, for a variety of reasons, many bodies were been removed and remounted on newer or older chassis. It is useful (and recommended) to compare the body and chassis numbers of a VW before buying it, in order to know if you are getting an original pan/body combination (if that matters to you), or a vehicle that has been diassembled and restored/changed in the years since it was originally produced at the factory. Although there are legitimate reasons for a VW to have different body versus chassis numbers, non-matching body and chassis numbers can also be a red flag for a stolen vehicle. You will want to have the DMV check both numbers before purchasing one. (Better safe than sorry!) You need to be certain to check ALL of the ID number locations on a vehicle in order to know exactly what you are getting (or have acquired).

TYPE 1 (Beetle, SuperBeetle, Ghia, Thing) CHASSIS NUMBERS

Possible Chassis Number Locations on a Type 1:

Under the back seat, stamped on the floor pan just forward of the transmission linkage access cover
On the chassis identification plate (a silver aluminum plate riveted in the trunk, near the spare tire).
On the vehicle ID plate fastened to the dash near the windshield on the driver’s side (vehicles made after January 1, 1969).

YEAR


space

Beetle

(German
Production)

*asterisk
indicates monthly chassis and production information available

SuperBeetle

(German
Production)

Ghia

(Worldwide
Production)

Thing

(Mexican Production)

1940 1-000 01
1946 1-053 814
1947 1-063 796
1948 1-072 743 *
1949 1-091 921 *
1950 1-138 554 *
1951 1-220 829 *
1952 1-313 829 *
1953 1-397 023 *
1954 1-575 415 *
1955 1-781 884 *
1956 1 929 746 * 929746
1957 1 394 119 * 1060929
1958 1 160 440 * 1600 440
1959 1 774 680 * 1774 680
1960 2 528 668 * 2528 668
1961 3 192 507 * 3192 507
1962 4 010 995 * 4010 995
1963 4 846 835 * 4846 836
1964 5 677 119 * 5677 119
1965 115 000 001 * 145 000 001
1966 116 000 001 * 146 000 001
1967 117 000 001 * 147 000 001
1968 118 000 001 * 148 000 001
1969 119 000 001 * 149 000 001
1970 110 2000 001 * 140 2000 001
1971 111 2000 001 111 2000 001 141 2000 001
1972 112 3200 000 112 2000 001 142 2000 001
1973 113 2000 001 133 2000 001 143 2000 001 183 2000 001
1974 114 2000 001 134 2000 001 144 2000 001 184 2000 001
1975 115 2000 001 135 2000 001
1976 116 2000 001 156 2000 001
1977 117 2000 001 157 2000 001
1978 118 2000 001 158 2000 001
1979 159 2000 001
 

TYPE 2 (Early Bus, Late Bus, Vanagon)
CHASSIS NUMBERS

 

Possible Chassis Number Locations
on a Type 2:

  1. Behind the passenger seat, on the
    divider panel.
  2. In the engine bay, just to the right
    of the engine.
  3. On early busses, on the roof (inside)
    near the fan assembly.
YEAR


space

Early
Bus
 

(German
Production)

Late
Bus
 

(German
Production)

Vanagon

(Worldwide
Production)

1950 0001
1951 8113
1952 20-035 112
1953 20-047 102
1954 20-069 409
1955 20-117 902
1956 20-160 716
1957 223 217
1958 315 209
1959 374 811
1960 469 506
1961 614 456
1962 802 986
1963 971 550
1964 114 4282
1965 215 000 001
1966 216 000 001
1967 217 000 001
1968 218 000 001
1969 219 000 001
1970 210 2000 001
1971 211 2000 001
1972 212 2000 001
1973 213 2000 001
1974 214 2000 001
1975 215 2000 001
1976 216 2000 001
1977 217 2000 001
1978 218 2000 001
1979 219 2000 001
1980 24A 00000 001
1981 24B 000 001
1982 24C 000 001
1983 24D 000 001
 

TYPE 3 (Fastback, Notchback, Squareback)
CHASSIS NUMBERS

 

Possible Chassis Number Locations
on a Type 3:

  1. Under the back seat, stamped on
    the floor pan
    just forward of
    the transmission linkage access cover
  2. On the chassis identification plate
    (a silver aluminum plate riveted in the trunk, near the spare tire).
  3. On the vehicle ID plate fastened
    to the dash near the windshield on the driver’s side (vehicles made after January
    1, 1969).
YEAR


space

Type
3
 

(Worldwide
Production)

1961 000 001
1962 011 041
1963 066 740
1964 221 975
1965 315 000 001
1966 316 000 001
1967 317 000 001
1968 318 000 001
1969 319 000 001
1970 310 2000 001
1971 311 2000 001
1972 312 2000 001
B>1973 313 2000 001
1974 314 2000 001
VW ENGINE INFORMATION and ENGINE CASE NUMBERS
 

What engine was “original” for your car?
VW also stamped their engine cases with a serial number, sometimes referred to as an Engine Number, or Engine Case Number.

Research ongoing — more to come!

Engine Bore (mm)
Engine Stroke (mm)
Deck Height (inches - 0.040 recommended)
Head Chamber Volume (CC)
Compression Ratio(Enter "8.5" for 8.5:1 CR)
Number of cylinders
Engine Size / Displacement
Click Button to Calculate