Chassis numbers

Chassis numbers

The full chassis number, or 'VIN', contains 9 digits if the bus is a 1968 or 1969 model. If the chassis number consists of 10 digits it is a 1970-1979 model. The first two numbers identify the type of bus. The 3rd digit stands for the model year. A '4' would be 1974, in the case of an '8' it could be 1968 or 1978. Simply look at the number of digits in the chassis number and you can see if the bus is from the 60ties or 70ties. On 1968-1969 models the rest of the number is the serial number. On 1970-1979 an extra digit was added to distinguish between 60ties and 70ties chassis numbers. This exra digit is always a '2'. It was meant to turn into a '3' in case Volkswagen would run out of serial numbers in a model year. This never happened with the type 2 production. The rest of the numbers is the serial number.

Example

If the chassis number reads as follows:

2382 044 222

Then on the M-plate the model number (23) is not shown:

82 044 222

The complete chassis number consists of 10 digits so the '8' stands for a 1978 model. The '2' is the extra digit that was used for 70ties VW-chassis numbers. '044 222' is the serial number.

If the chassis number reads as follows:

238 044 222

Then on the M-plate the model number (23) is not shown:

8044222

The complete chassis number consists of 9 digits so the '8' stands for a 1968 model. '044222' is the serial number.