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Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:36 pm

Was having a stock 12V system back in '64 a pretty rare option? Here's what the M-Code plate has:

08 0

620 621 625

374 056 080 082 146 216

2313 523308 118****

Here's what I've decoded

October 8, 1963
620-12V System
621-12V Warning Light Relay
625-NOW LISTED AS UNKNOWN (Thanks Everett)
374-North American Equipment (6 Popouts)
056-Steering/Ignition Lock
080-Split Front Seats (Walk-Thru)
082-Cargo Floor Mount for Short Middle Seat?
146-7 Seater (RH Cargo Doors)
216-1500cc Engine

231-Kombi Cargo Doors Right LHD
3-Synthetic Resin Finish

5-Export Model
23-Kombi
308-Beige Grey over Sealing Wax Red

Now there's no destination code, which means German delivery. Is this ALWAYS true, or were some buses never stamped and still delivered elsewhere?

Also, what's a 12V Warning Light Relay, and I think 625 needs to be added to the M-Code page, my guess is it has something to do with the 12V system.

Thanks for any insight, and hope you enjoy looking at some interesting options.

Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:16 pm

I don't know how rare it is, but I'm glad my '65 had the option as well.

Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:07 pm

MGBaja_Smurf wrote: Was having a stock 12V system back in '64 a pretty rare option? Here's what the M-Code plate has:

08 0

620 621 625

374 056 080 082 146 216

2313 523308 118****

Here's what I've decoded

October 8, 1963
620-12V System
621-12V Warning Light Relay
625-NOT EVEN LISTED AS UNKNOWN
374-North American Equipment (6 Popouts)
056-Steering/Ignition Lock
080-Split Front Seats (Walk-Thru)
082-Cargo Floor Mount for Short Middle Seat?
146-7 Seater (RH Cargo Doors)
216-1500cc Engine

231-Kombi Cargo Doors Right LHD
3-Synthetic Resin Finish

5-Export Model
23-Kombi
308-Beige Grey over Sealing Wax Red

Now there's no destination code, which means German delivery. Is this ALWAYS true, or were some buses never stamped and still delivered elsewhere?

Also, what's a 12V Warning Light Relay, and I think 625 needs to be added to the M-Code page, my guess is it has something to do with the 12V system.

Thanks for any insight, and hope you enjoy looking at some interesting options.

Not what I'd classify as rare, just uncommon. As best I recall you could special order a factory 12 volt system on Buses as early as 1963. Spookymulder used to own a 1963 23 that was factory 12 volt if I recall correctly.

Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:04 pm

My '64 Kombi is a factory 12 volt. Kinda cool to be different.

Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:22 pm

suebug wrote: My '64 Kombi is a factory 12 volt. Kinda cool to be different.

it has a 12volt starter with 6 volt gear. make sure if your starter goes out you get one like it. the same starter setup is in kermit.

Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:07 pm

Sounds like a cool Bus. That's a pretty uncommon set of codes.

Since it has German delivery but is N. American specifications, it was probably a Tourist Delivery Bus.

Do you have any history on it from previous owners?

Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:57 pm

Well, first let me clear up, I don't own the bus...yet

Being 17, my parents aren't the happiest about me going after another car, let alone a 44 year old bus that isn't guaranteed to be reliable like my 72 Bug.

The bus is one-owner. Father bought it in 64 to drive during his senior year of high school, then handed it down to his younger brother to drive during high school (happens to be the same high school I'm at). Used it to camp with his wife after that I believe. It was then used as a work truck while their kids were growing up. One of the sons decided he wanted to drive it as soon as he turned 16, so they cleaned it up, and the son drove it throughout high school. Got bored with it after about 5 years, and its been sitting since. At some point in there the father passed away, and they haven't really made any effort to sell it until I showed up.

So being in one family, in one city, the bus has gone from OG paint to beige/brown to white/navy. It sits with the white/navy paint now. I thinks the original paint is still underneath at least in the engine compartment and interior probably.

I agree, Everett that the code combo is pretty unique. I wonder if they ordered it that way or if the factory got bored and threw a bunch of stuff together. :lol: Also, do you know anything about that 625 M-Code because it's not even listed on the M-Code page.

Hopefully, this bus may manage to become mine.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:00 am

Also, the wife didn't mention anything about it being bought in Germany, but she may not know being that it was bought while he was in high school.

Something else for me to ask.

I love that it still has ice picks too. :D

Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:47 am

I don't know anything about 625 but I added it to the M-code page.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:47 am

Since 620 and 621 are 12V reated, I'd guess 625 is too.

Ahh the mystery of the VW M-Codes.

Bill May, you say it has a 12volt starter with a 6 volt gear. Is the whole bus not running 12V? Care to elaborate? BTW I dig Kermit in all his greenness.

Also, can anyone elaborate on the 12V Warning Light Relay and what it does?

Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:22 am

I have seen the 12v mcode on a 64 standard. It also had the 12v sticker

Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:49 pm

Yup the stickers on the dash. I thought it was something one of the sons had thrown on before I ran the M-codes.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:01 pm

MGBaja_Smurf wrote:
Also, can anyone elaborate on the 12V Warning Light Relay and what it does?

Sounds like the 4-way emergency light flasher relay. Does it have a red light on the dash, to the left of the steering wheel? The turn signal flasher would have to be 12V too.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:10 pm

dstefun that's exactly what it is. There's a little round red light on the dash to the left. Thanks for solving that one.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:15 pm

MGBaja_Smurf wrote:
Bill May, you say it has a 12volt starter with a 6 volt gear. Is the whole bus not running 12V? Care to elaborate? BTW
What he means is that the engine has the standard at the time flywheel, which is smaller than the later flywheel. The change in flywheels was done when they changed to 12V as factory standard around 1966, I believe.
So the smaller flywheels are generally called "6V", and the larger are "12V". Even though you could get a 12V version from the factory. Upshot of all this is that the early 12V option buses had a special 12V starter with a drive gear sized for the "6V" flywheel.

Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:52 pm

Oh, alright. That makes sense. I'm not sure how stock the motor still is.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:30 am

My '65 Highroof has the 12V option. Always figured it was because the other Army vehicles were all 12V, and they wanted to standardize. I suspect the 12V option is more often found on the commercial vehicles...

Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:04 am

Just for reference I used to have a 65 bg/swr hardtop deluxe that had the 12 volt option. It was also a german delivery bus with no destination code.
Had 2 popouts, and a steering lock.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:09 am

Yes 12V for pre-67 is rare, but not super valuable. Kinda cool, though.
So, pics?

Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:39 am

I don't have pics right now, and would kind of prefer not to reveal the location (maybe I'm just paranoid). If I do end up getting it though, this will be the first place that will get to see it.

I swear it exists though. I don't have enough time to waste making up a story like this. I'd be better off working on my scripts.

The 12V is a plus in my opinion because it means the headlights actually shine some light on the road. :lol: