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57rag
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Mannheim, Germany
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 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:32 pm Post subject: Body serial numbers |
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| Does anyone know where I can find body serial numbers by year? I have seen the chassis numbers by year but need body numbers by year since I have a different chassis. I know for sure my body is at least a 57(oval) but want to know for sure. Thanks !! |
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Hebster52
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Joined: March 14, 2003
Posts: 1508
Location: Finland, Jakobstad
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57rag
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Mannheim, Germany
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:53 am Post subject: |
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herbster,
my body does not fall into any of those. the first three numbers out of 6 are 239, its an oval and not a split . by looking at those numbers it would be a 51! any advice??
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jakedaniel
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Joined: November 22, 2003
Posts: 58
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 5:22 am Post subject: |
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What does your dash look like? Back when ovals first came out some people would chop the centers out of their splits to look like an oval, (I know, it's horrible). There was one of these on the Samba for sale recently. Might be the reason why the #s say it's a 51 
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foxtrot1027
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Joined: January 24, 2004
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:01 am Post subject: |
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If your dash is the split style but you have an oval window it is called a zwitter, which in german essentially means between years. VW used up the rest of the splt dashes in the early prodcution of the ovals but this started in jan of 52 I believe. Also jackdaniel is correct. When ovals first came out many people actually converted the split with a kit which as actually installed by some VW service depts, because although the split looks cool its a pain to see out of. According to VW the vin system for early cars is: The History of the VIN System
First VIN System:1949 to July 1964
The VIN for cars produced through July 1964 is merely a production serial number. It is necessary to know what model the vehicle is. No other information can be derived from the serial number.
Do the numbers on the pan match up with the body numbers? Also Ive read that most European models were a year behind on changes which would be upgraded on export models???? |
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57rag
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Mannheim, Germany
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:45 am Post subject: |
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wow, I guess Ill never figure out the mystery of my car! Ive had a Nevada title for 15 yrs now saying its a 57. I dont know how they figured that one out. My old pan was a 56. Whatever it is its mine and its an oval ragtop!
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Trayle D. the real oggfk
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Joined: March 24, 2002
Posts: 1508
Location: Phoenix...... GFK all day every day
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Body numbers 154 046 through 399 923 are from 1956 "MODEL YEAR"
Looks like you have a 1956 oval that was bult in mid/begining of April
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Trayle D. the real oggfk
Samba Fabricator
Joined: March 24, 2002
Posts: 1508
Location: Phoenix...... GFK all day every day
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:04 am Post subject: |
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Theres a good way to tell the difference between 1956 and 1957 bettles. The heater ducts were moved back towards the door in January of 1957. And if you have a rag top the rear corners of the rag should be square if your car was built before May of 1956
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. . . . . . .GERMAN FOLKS 602
"The Downest, Deepest, & Dopest"
Trayle Duncan
AKA: The Troll that lives under that samba
AKA: The Samba Fabricator
Stay'n sucka free for the 0000000000... Hell, from now on... |
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57rag
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Mannheim, Germany
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:43 am Post subject: |
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Trayeld, my front heater ducts are up by the pedal cluster. I looked at them all day today installing my carpet! My rag has two folds, sounds like its not a 57 by the heater duct indication. The older the better
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57rag
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Joined: January 23, 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Mannheim, Germany
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:44 am Post subject: |
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by the way, YOU ARE the man! Thanks bro, Ive always knew something wasnt right but never asked anyone or researched it. I will sleep good tonight!
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Bruce
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Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 14440
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| foxtrot1027 wrote: |
| If your dash is the split style but you have an oval window it is called a zwitter, which in german essentially means between years. VW used up the rest of the splt dashes in the early prodcution of the ovals but this started in jan of 52 I believe. |
This is so WRONG! The factory never made a split dash car with an oval rear window.
In Oct of 52 there were a ton of changes, including a total revamping of the dash into what is known as the oval dash. The rear window did not change at this time. Production continued like this until Mar of 53 when they changed the rear window to oval shape. It is the cars of these 5 months of production that are referred to as zwitters.
In German, a zwitter literally means neither male, nor female. VW people use it because the cars it applies to are considered neither splits, nor ovals.
The term zwitter has been (and may still be) used to describe someone who is gay. |
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Trayle D. the real oggfk
Samba Fabricator
Joined: March 24, 2002
Posts: 1508
Location: Phoenix...... GFK all day every day
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| Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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You are right bruce. Although I think that was a typo. I think he meant to write "oval dash and split window", not the other way around.
And directly translated "Zwitter" means "hybrid". The usage you supplied is 100% correct.
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. . . . . . .GERMAN FOLKS 602
"The Downest, Deepest, & Dopest"
Trayle Duncan
AKA: The Troll that lives under that samba
AKA: The Samba Fabricator
Stay'n sucka free for the 0000000000... Hell, from now on... |
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