Aircooled Volkswagen Engine Identification
VW Engine Letter Codes and Serial Number Information
Type 1 Engine Information
Type 1 Vehicle Models: Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia, THING
Code Year Engine/Notes
1- Pre-Jan., 1956 25hp/36hp 1- prefix indicates Type 1 and is not part of the sequential engine number.
2, 3, 4 1955-65 1200cc 30bhp DIN, 36HP SAE (“A” series engine)
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 1961-65 1200cc 34bhp DIN, 40HP SAE (“VW D” added below serial after 9247364)
D0, D1 1966-1985 1200cc 34bhp DIN, 40HP SAE For Mexican made 1200s after 1977.
E0 1966-1970 1300cc 37bhp DIN. Non-USA M240 low compression.
F0, F1, F2 1966-1970 1300cc 40bhp DIN, 50HP SAE (only 1966 in USA, 66-70 elsewhere)
H0, H1 1967-1970 1500cc 44bhp DIN, 53HP SAE (only 1967 in USA, 67-70 elsewhere)
H5 1968-1969 1500cc 44bhp DIN, 53HP SAE M157 USA/Canada.
B6 1970 1600cc Dual relief, single port, 47bhp DIN, 57HP SAE M157 USA/Canada.
L0 1967-1970 1500cc 40bhp DIN. Non-USA M240 low compression.
(NOTE: all the following 1971-up engines are dual relief and dual port)
AB 1971-1973 1300cc 44bhp DIN, Non-USA.
AC 1971-72 1300cc 40bhp DIN, Non-USA M240 low octane.
AE 1971 1600cc 50bhp DIN, 60HP SAE-gross. USA-only
AE 1972-1973 1600cc 48bhp DIN, 48HP SAE-net. USA-only (compression ratio reduced)
AF 1971-1982 1600cc 46bhp DIN, Non-USA M240 low octane.
AH 1973-1974 1600cc 48bhp DIN, 46HP SAE-net. USA-only
AK 1973 1600cc 48bhp DIN, 46HP SAE-net. USA-only
AJ 1975-1979 1600cc 50bhp DIN, 48HP SAE-net. Fuel Injected.
AR 1974-1975 1300cc 44bhp DIN. Non-USA.
AS 1974-1979 1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA.
ACD 1992-2004 1600cc 46bhp DIN. Mexico. Fuel Injected.
Type 2 Engine Information
Type 2 Vehicle Models: Early Bus, Early Transporter, Single Cab, Double Cab (Doka))
Code Year Engine/Notes
20- Pre-Jan., 1956 25hp/36hp (20- prefix indicates Type 2 and is not part of the sequential engine number)
2, 3, 4 1955-1960 1200cc, 36hp (includes “Bastard 40hp”)
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 1961-1965 1200cc, 40hp
O 1963-1965 1500cc – no cam bearings
H0 1966-1967 1500cc
L0 1967 1500cc M240 low compression
B0 1968-1970 1600cc non-USA
B5 1968-1969 1600cc single relief USA only
B5 1970 1600cc dual relief USA only
C0 1968-1970 1600cc 44bhp. Non-USA. M240 low octane.
AD 1971-1973 1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA.
AE 1971 1600cc 50bhp DIN, 60HP SAE-gross. USA-only
AS 1974-1979 1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA
CB 1972/1973 1700cc – dual carb., manual transmission
CD 1973 1700cc – dual carb., automatic transmission
AW 1973/1974 1800cc – dual carb.
AW 1975 1800cc – fuel-injected
AP 1974/1975 1800cc – European only
ED 1975 1800cc
GD 1976/1977 2000cc
CJ 1976-1979 2000cc – European only
GE 1978/1979 2000cc
CU 1980-1983 1/2 2000cc – Vanagon style
CV 1980-1983 2000cc – Vanagon style
Type 3 Engine Information
Type 3 Vehicle Models: Squareback, Fastback, Notchback
Code Year Engine/Notes
O 1961-1965 1500cc
K0 1966-1972 1500cc – 54hp
M0 1966-1972 1500cc – M240 low compression 52hp
P0 1966/1967 1600cc – M240 low compression 50hp
T0 1966-1973 1600cc
U0 1968-1973 1600cc – fuel injected for USA
U0 1970 1600cc – dual-relief case
U5 1971-1973 1600cc – 7.7:1 compression – US/Canada M239 California fuel-injection
X 1972 1600cc – 7.3:1 compression – California
Type 4 Engine Information
Type 4 Vehicle Models: Late Bus, 411, 412
Code Year Engine/Notes
V 1969 1700cc – 68hp
Z 1969/1970 1700cc – 7.8:1 compression – 68hp, dual carb., automatic transmission
W 1971 1700cc – 8.2:1 compression – 80hp
EA 1972-1974 1700cc
EB 1973 1700cc – California only, fuel injection
EC 1974 1800cc
AN 1974 1800cc – 8.6:1 compression
AT 1974 1800cc – European only, dual carb.
Engines from VW of Brazil
GAS-Gasoline / Alcohol-ALC
Code Engine
BA 1600-BRASILIA (1976)
BD 1600 BEETLE GAS
BG 1600 GAS AND KOMBI KOMBI EXP
BJ 1300 BEETLE GAS
BK 1300 LAC BEETLE BRASILIA
BM 1300 LAC GOL
BN BRAZIL GAS 1600
BV 1600 GAS VARIANT
BX 1600 LAC KOMBI KOMBI EXP
BY 1300 GOL GAS
BZ 1600 GAS VAN
UF 1600 BEETLE GAS
UG 1600 GAS VAN
UJ 1600 LAC BEETLE
UK 1600 LAC VAN
Motors above 90
UFA 1600 BEETLE GAS
UJA 1600 LAC BEETLE
UGA 1600 GAS VAN CARAT
Replacement cases
These were VW engine cases which were sold by VW but were never put into an actual production vehicle. All of these are dual-relief cases with 100mm oil passages. Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.
From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.
Code Engine
F1 1300/1600
F2 1300/1600
DO 40hp if last digit is “X”
D1 40hp part
AD 1600
AK 1967-1974 1500/1600
AM 1600
AS Sometimes seen listed as Super Beetle case for 1973-onward
Exchange engines
These engines are normally marked with a VW recycle symbol and an X at the end.
Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.
From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.