Chassis Numbers

[Doob]

This forum is great - the collective knowledge & wisdom of this group is tremendous.
The Chassis No / VIN of my Kombi is 2312237008.
Based on the information above and the Forward of the Bentley Manual (see attached) - my interpretation of the Chassis No is ;

• The first digit   2 = Type 2
  
• The second digit 3 = Kombi
  
• The 3rd digit 1= 1971 Model Year
  
• The 4th digit 2 = 1970’s decade ??
  
• The remaining 6-digit sequence is unique to the vehicle (i.e   237 008)
  

Would this be correct??
The Australian compliance plate is also stamped with 10/71, that I have interpreted as the date of manufacture .i.e October 1971.
However, as this is after August 1971 it might imply it is 1972 model rather than a 1971 model ?   
Others have told me that for Australian built VWs, the model cut off was at the end of the year, not August as in the Northern Hemisphere. 
Any comments on this ??

I also have the welded plate in the engine bay with the prefix no 234 1673 (little hard to read). So based on above 23=Kombi & 4 = RHD etc.
Is there a definitive reference for decoding these welded on prefix plates (i.e. for numbers other than 234) ??

  Scan_0149.pdf (Size: 418.3 KB / Downloads: 8)

[Wayne Murray]

Don't think the 4th digit prefix stands for anything on the chassis number ,well not in the earlier models.
The Australian Compliance plate date is more when the car was completed (finished) to Australian standards of that time and has nothing to do when it was manufactured. Australia normally has it's year period from January of that year. Due to the time it took for parts to be shipped over from Germany for the new model and you may also find that your car may have parts from a earlier or later model depending on how much parts where sent over in each shipment of a particular part. 
You also have a second Australian welded plate. You know the first two are the type the third digit 4 is to do with RHD, left side sliding door.  walk thru 0, dual carb motor 5th digit, Auto trans 6th digit. Think that's how it goes from memory. Their is a chart somewhere with it all on it, just have to find it.

[syncro]

The Australian compliance plate is also stamped with 10/71, that I have interpreted as the date of manufacture .i.e October 1971.
However, as this is after August 1971 it might imply it is 1972 model rather than a 1971 model ?   
Others have told me that for Australian built VWs, the model cut off was at the end of the year, not August as in the Northern Hemisphere. 

The compliance plate has nothing to do with manufacture date. It is the date that the plate was fitted. Could be 2 years later.

Year model is end of year in Australia. eg December 1971 build is a 1971 model.

[Doob]

Many thanks Syncro and Wayne,

Chassis Numbers;
In addition to the Forward from the Bentley Manual (scanned copy attached above – in #11) there is a good write up on the ClubVeeDub website – covering more VW models, and more specific for Australian built vehicles. Including discussion re cut-off dates etc…
https://www.clubvw.org.au/vwreference/vwchassis/

The ID Plate spot welded to the chassis in the engine bay
The plate on our 1971 Kombi has the number 234 1673 - and Culmara’s 1972 Kombi plate is 234 1742. 
As indicated by Wayne above, it does look like the first 3 digits are a type/model code and the last 4 digits are production sequence numbers.?

Again, from the ClubVeeDub website there is a listing of type/model codes that I guess are the same as those being used on these ID plates? – not sure?
https://www.clubvw.org.au/vwreference/vwmodels/
e.g.

• 234 = Type 2 -Kombi – LHS sliding door – RHD (as indicated by Wayne above)
  
• 224 = Type 2 - Microbus (7,8, or 9 seats) – LHS sliding door – RHD
  
• 268 = Type 2 - Double Cab Pickup - LHS door - RHD
  

And so on….!

Compliance Plate date
Compliance Date vs Build Date – yes ..got it ..thanks!

[DavidH]

Some info I just dug up from my back up  .

Bay Window chassis numbers explained
1976       216 2000 001      216 2300 000
The chassis number, or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), can be found stamped on an aluminum plate either behind the front seats or in the engine bay.  An example chassis number might read: 229 375 250 (This number belongs to a Type 2 Microbus made in 1969)...
 
The first digit of the chassis number, '2', indicates that this is a Type 2.
 
The second digit of the VIN, again '2', denotes the vehicle model. Which model do you have?
 
1. Panel van
2. Microbus 7/9 seater
3. Kombi i.e. van with windows
4. Deluxe microbus 7/9 seater
6. Pickup
7. Crewcab
 
The third digit of the chassis number represents the year
 
1968       218 000 001         >             218202251
1969       219 000 001         >             219300000
1970       210 2000 001       >             2102300000
1971       211 2000 001       >             2102300000
1972       212 2000 001       >             2102300000
1973       213 2000 001       >             2102300000
1974       214 2000 001       >             2102300000
1975       215 2000 001       >             2102300000
1976       216 2000 001       >             2102300000
1977       217 2000 001       >             2102300000
1978       218 2000 001       >             2102300000
1979       219 2000 001       >             2102300000
T2 Bay Window engine numbers
The engine number can be found stamped on the top of the crankcase, centrally above the crankshaft pulley on the type 1 or type 2 engines. And stamped on the top of the crankcase above the Cooling fan on the type 4 engine.
 
T2 Bay Window engine types
There were two engine options that were originally fitted to the VW Transporter between 1967 and 1979.
The first was the Type 2 1600cc engine, which is identical to the Type 1 Beetle engine except it has an extra engine mounting at the rear of the crankcase. Commonly referred to as an upright engine. The second option first appeared in 1972 and this was the Type 4 engine which was sold in three sizes, 1700, 1800 and 2000cc. Commonly referred to as a Pancake or Type 4 engine.
 
Type 1 and 2 Engines
 
CODE     CC           BHP        NOTES
B             1600       47           Single Port
AD          1600       50           Twin Port
AS           1600       50           Twin Port
Type 4 Engines
 
CODE     CC           BHP        NOTES
CA          1700       66           Type 4
CB           1700       66           Type 5
CD          1700       66           Type 6
AP          1800       68           Type 7
CJ            2000       70           Type 4
GD          2000       70           Type 4
GE          2000       70           Type 5

[Wayne Murray]

Some info I just dug up from my back up  .

Bay Window chassis numbers explained
1976       216 2000 001      216 2300 000
The chassis number, or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), can be found stamped on an aluminum plate either behind the front seats or in the engine bay.  An example chassis number might read: 229 375 250 (This number belongs to a Type 2 Microbus made in 1969)...
 
The first digit of the chassis number, '2', indicates that this is a Type 2.
 
The second digit of the VIN, again '2', denotes the vehicle model. Which model do you have?
 
1. Panel van
2. Microbus 7/9 seater
3. Kombi i.e. van with windows
4. Deluxe microbus 7/9 seater
6. Pickup
7. Crewcab
 
The third digit of the chassis number represents the year
 
1968       218 000 001         >             218202251
1969       219 000 001         >             219300000
1970       210 2000 001       >             2102300000
1971       211 2000 001       >             2102300000
1972       212 2000 001       >             2102300000
1973       213 2000 001       >             2102300000
1974       214 2000 001       >             2102300000
1975       215 2000 001       >             2102300000
1976       216 2000 001       >             2102300000
1977       217 2000 001       >             2102300000
1978       218 2000 001       >             2102300000
1979       219 2000 001       >             2102300000
T2 Bay Window engine numbers
The engine number can be found stamped on the top of the crankcase, centrally above the crankshaft pulley on the type 1 or type 2 engines. And stamped on the top of the crankcase above the Cooling fan on the type 4 engine.
 
T2 Bay Window engine types
There were two engine options that were originally fitted to the VW Transporter between 1967 and 1979.
The first was the Type 2 1600cc engine, which is identical to the Type 1 Beetle engine except it has an extra engine mounting at the rear of the crankcase. Commonly referred to as an upright engine. The second option first appeared in 1972 and this was the Type 4 engine which was sold in three sizes, 1700, 1800 and 2000cc. Commonly referred to as a Pancake or Type 4 engine.
 
Type 1 and 2 Engines
 
CODE     CC           BHP        NOTES
B             1600       47           Single Port
AD          1600       50           Twin Port
AS           1600       50           Twin Port
Type 4 Engines
 
CODE     CC           BHP        NOTES
CA          1700       66           Type 4
CB           1700       66           Type 5
CD          1700       66           Type 6
AP          1800       68           Type 7
CJ            2000       70           Type 4
GD          2000       70           Type 4
GE          2000       70           Type 5

7 isn't crewcab it's an ambulance, In the chassis numbers both ute styles are 6. The model types crewcab is 268, single cab is 264.

[DavidH]

7 isn't crewcab it's an ambulance, In the chassis numbers both ute styles are 6. The model types crewcab is 268, single cab is 264.

Thanks Wayne. I just 'pasted' from an old file. Appreciate the correct info  .
Cheers