TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1959? Beetle Engine

Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:47 pm

Hey all! I have a beautiful (if non-functioning) beetle engine languishing in my garage. I "think" it's a 1959 engine but I need some assistance with that date. The engine number is 3 688 838 . The generator stand is as one with the engine (not a bolt on) and my dad told me it was a 66 engine but I'm getting mixed signals from a lot of people. I'd like to sell it (blew the number 3 cylinder) but I don't want to misrepresent it. Any help is most definitely appreciated!!

Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:08 pm

That engine number comes up as a 40 horse engine that should have the bolt on oil fill /generator stand.

Your description sounds more like a 25/36 hp however. It may be restamped after being rebuilt.

Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:51 pm

My guess, is this is a real 36HP from model year 1960. Is the dipstick painted red by any chance? (originally, 1960 bugs had a red painted dipstick to show it was marked for the 1960-only bug frame, which had the engine mounted at a different angle)

The problem with trying to ID 1960 model year engines like this is that BUS models from May 1959 through the end of model year 1960 had the "Bastard 40HP" engine with the removable stand, these started at engine number 3400000. Some sources say the "bastard" ended at 3580000, but I think it was lower than that.

Bug engines, on the other hand, did not get the redesigned engine. I think once the Bug got up to 3399999 that they skipped up a ways in numbers to somewhere around 3580000. And I don't think the VIN number charts are very accurate for that period. In fact, the main reference book they came out of, Progressive Refinements, doesn't even list the Bus engine numbers at all. It does talk about the numerous revisions to that engine though. Bug engines, on the other hand, had almost no changes during that period.

Another note: at the very end of 36HP production, the last couple of months of model year 1965 for the Standard model, VW used engine numbers in the 353xxxx-354xxxx range that has been left unused back in 1960.

The Car of the Centurly book lists the number range in Bug engines in 1960 was from 3072320 up to 3912903 and no major changes were made during that time. That's 840,583 engine numbers... If you go by the the chassis numbers corresponding those engine numbers, there were 663838 made during that same period (although production charts show over 700K made that year though) Still there's well over 100K engine numbers open there.

According to Progressive Refinements, the Bastard 40HP lasted from May 59 to June 60, and during that time the chassis numbers had advanced 145009 digits. There's a gap in there, which were the ones that VW later started to use in June/July 1965.

- Andy

Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:20 am

Thanks for the feedback guys. Yes......the dipstick is red. Never thought that would help identify it, LOL. So most likely we are in the 59 to 60 time frame. Any idea on what the value might be on something like that? I'm ready to part with it and want to make it an attractive offer.

Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:28 am

36hp engines are still plentiful and therefore cheap. A couple hundred, tops, if it spins and is complete. Consider strongly keeping it with the car--can help resale dramatically if it's the original engine. How to know? Get a birth certificate from Wolfsburg.

Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:33 pm

Bart....thanks so much for the reply. Actually the engine is from a bug and I drive a bus. It was a "gap filler" when the original engine died but that was back in the early 80's so I'm just trying to figure out what I'm dealing with. Thanks again for weighing in!