TheSamba.com :: View topic - M-code plate help

Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:49 pm

Finally decoded my m-code plate. How exciting!

Decode Results:
Production Date: March 4, 1971
Exported To: USA, Jacksonville, Honolulu
Designation: Kombi
Engine KW (BHP): 35 (47)
Transmission Type: manual
Engine: 157
Transmission Code: -
Extras Code: -
Paint / Interior
Paint Scheme: Chianti Red
Paint Codes: L31H
Paint Notes: code for Westfalia campmobiles (type 23)
Interior Scheme:
Interior Material:
Interior Notes: This model has a special paint code which means no interior info is available
Options
518: Campmobile with pop-up roof
697: Continental Tires
A02: Specifications for the USA / Speedo in miles, Sealed beam headlamps, Rear window defroster, Back-up lamps, Side marker reflectors... (?)
P31: Westfalia SO 70/2 interrior (?)
507: Vent wings in cab doors
517: Campmobile

Man my bus must have some crazy story to get from Honolulu all the way to here! All I know is that the previous owners bought it from this hippie with a crazy name. I wish I remembered it cause it was so crazy. I wonder if he was the original owner...man if walls could talk (in this case, buses heehee!)

Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:07 am

Honolulu to Vancouver is quite a ways. My '77 was brought into Washington, DC and I bought it outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas. I thought that was a ways but I guess not!

Phil

Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:20 pm

I don't know if this site has been mentioned yet but it is really good for decoding:

http://www.vw-mplate.com/mcode.php

Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:38 pm

calebmelvin wrote: I don't know if this site has been mentioned yet but it is really good for decoding:

http://www.vw-mplate.com/mcode.php

Thanks for the link, I really like that site.

Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:46 am

If any one needs a reproduction M code plate, check the classifieds for my ad.

Thanks,

Inky

Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:19 am

you wouldn't happen to know what these stand for, would you?

ET9

EUO

K21

Thanks! :)

Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:59 pm

molenari wrote: ghiastein wrote: I was finally able to check my other Bus

UK - USA, port: ??? Pennsylvania

I hope that helps

UK stands for "USA (reserve east)"

I am not sure what it means exactly. I suspect VW had buses in stock. I mean buses that were produced and delivered to the USA without a customer that ordered it first.

It is very likely because:
:arrow: producing and shipping a bus from Germany to the USA takes some time, and as a commercialcompany you don't want customers having to wait.

:arrow: most US buses look alike, the variation in optional extra's and types of buses was limited on the US market. (this on the contrary to West-Germany itself, where it is hard to find 2 buses that are alike. The time between production and first registration in Germany was often 2 weeks)

I am thinking that it is correct that the "UK" code was for already made buses. I have a '67 bus with a UK port of entry code and the owner's manual shows it was purchased in February, 1967 at Lakewood Motors in Southern California. I'm willing to bet it came into the US through the Port of Long Beach, or Port of Los Angeles. I doubt it came through an eastern port (as some, but not all M-code references infer), as it was manufacturered on December 23, 1966 - not a lot of time to arrive on the east coast of the US and sell on the west coast in February. I'd be curious to hear about other UK port code buses and where they were first sold.

Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:09 pm

72 123 434

4803K2 009 246
12 4 7266 UW 2218 61

I think i have everything figured out exept the m-code 009.

Can anyone help me with this?

Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:32 pm

skid wrote: Finally decoded my m-code plate. How exciting!

Slacker! :D

Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:28 am

I am having a hard time deciphering my tag. I bought it from the Canary Islands and the previous owner told me it was a 68 and registered in 69 here in Spain. I'm totally confused. Please help!

Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:20 am

67T1 wrote: I am having a hard time deciphering my tag. I bought it from the Canary Islands and the previous owner told me it was a 68 and registered in 69 here in Spain. I'm totally confused. Please help!
Oh that's an easy one, I can do it without looking, the top line reads "cool truck", the next line down reads "cool truck", etc......

Seriously though alltheprettybuses.com says it's a 70 (Sept 12 69) originally delivered to Toronto with mountain gearing :shock: Pretty unique, someone must have added the disc brakes later.
We demand more pics!

Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:02 am

Wicked cool truck.

When you get tired of it you give me a call. :P

Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:58 am

busdaddy wrote: 67T1 wrote: I am having a hard time deciphering my tag. I bought it from the Canary Islands and the previous owner told me it was a 68 and registered in 69 here in Spain. I'm totally confused. Please help!
Oh that's an easy one, I can do it without looking, the top line reads "cool truck", the next line down reads "cool truck", etc......

Seriously though alltheprettybuses.com says it's a 70 (Sept 12 69) originally delivered to Toronto with mountain gearing :shock: Pretty unique, someone must have added the disc brakes later.
We demand more pics!

Here's a post from "reader's rides".
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=422329
& here's another ID plate I found.

Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:40 am

Hmmmm... I thought the L90 was odd for a 70, that's a 71, either alltheprettybuses has a flaw or I entered the #'s wrong, that explains the disc brakes.
Here's another decoder to try: www.vw-mplate.com

Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:55 am

Regardless of the year, I'm enjoying it! Thanks for the help busdaddy! 8)

Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:21 pm

I agree, if the local authorities are happy with the title as it is just keep it your own little secret when you need to buy parts :wink:

Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:27 pm

Well I updated my signature and I'm glad I got the right voltage regulator for the correct year application. I'm having to jump it with a battery jumper for now until the part gets here by mail.

I was looking at the 092 coding states it's for Gearbox with mountain ratio for mountainous areas. Interesting, I don't know if Toronto has mountains but previous owner told me that the Canary Islands is mountainous. I wonder how it ended up in Spain. Plus, as an American I am only allowed to bring one import into Spain. So if this vehicle originally is an import, I guess I'm in a loop hole with the legal system. Weird? :?:

Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:05 pm

How very fun! And interesting!!

P32 Additional tent for Westfalia P31 (1971-1979)

^^ Too bad that's not still with the bus...

Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:31 pm

Here's another to add to the collection. How it made it to Australia is not really known. It did end up in Canberra so maybe someone in the diplomatic service originally took delivery.

European Delivery Program

094 Lockable engine lid -
119 Eberspacher BN4 petrol heater whith outlet in load/passenger compartment
511 Padded instrument panel (LHD only)
517 Factory prepared for campmobile interior
P30 Westfalia interior type Campmobile without pop up roof (1971-1973)

Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:53 pm

dirtydan wrote: 72 123 434

4803K2 009 246
12 4 7266 UW 2218 61

I think i have everything figured out exept the m-code 009.

Can anyone help me with this?

I am pretty sure it is D09?
012 - Exhaust emission control installation and speedometer in miles instead of Kilometers
067 - 12 V 54 A battery instead of standard 12 V 45 A battery
102 - rear window defroster
162 - rubber strips for bumpers
227 - Detachable headrests for all seats in cabin
508 - Ventilationwindow in slidingdoor and in all windows opposite slidingdoor in the passenger compartment (3 windows alltogether)
723 - Special salescampaign (USA), paint colour "agata brown" with "atlas white" roof and cloth "parchment (beigegrey)" interior

The 723 and the colour code 4803K2 says it all: this is a Champagne Edition I microbus!! :shock:
Is it still in original condition?
Do you have pics of it?