Wrong VIN, Please help me identify the year

[Peabody]

Good morning everyone. I have recently purchased what I believe to be a '56 or '57 oval rag. It is on a '69 pan which I have confirmed with the pan's vin. The ID/VIN tag on the front appears to be from a '59 as it starts with "194" ('59). I did get a title from the owner that was from South Carolina from 1979 that has a VIN that starts with "121" ('56 year). The body number has been covered in paint and may have even been skimmed with body filler to smooth it out. Either way I can't read it or even tell that there's one there.

The previous owner swears up and down that it's a '56. Any advice or suggestions as to how to identify this year and what to do about this VIN situation? Should I title it to the pan or the tag? I believe the original tag is long gone. This car was restored over 20 years ago and most original parts are gone

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

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'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)

[Peabody]

Things I have confirmed:

-The ragtop is a "round on four corners" which would say it is no earlier than a '56 but still could be a 57.
-I think the final say on '56 vs '57 will be the heater vents in the forward channels. The carpet in this car is glued down so it may be a bit tricky to look without having to go buy a can of carpet glue to "correct" my curiosity's damage.

Edit: I think I'm just going to poke around with a pick and see if I can find the location of the heater vents. I believe if they are farther back then it is a '57 but same position forward, near the bulkhead, is '56. Here we go.

Edit#2: This is another thing that bugs me. Where the vin plate is located looks different that others that I've seen. Most have two ribs/bumps (?) above and below the plate. Mine has three. It also does not have the little ribs that are above and below the area where the body number would be stamped. Check the pictures below: (Yes I rubbed some paint, no I'm not proud of it.)

_________________
'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)

[Peabody]

So the heater vents are up front confirming (I think) that it is a '56. The front area around the vin tag is still a mystery. Any input is appreciated.
_________________
'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)

[*Darren]

your vin plate is screwed in. While it's a bastardized car, I doubt very seriously that with an oval dash that it's not an oval. That would be some serious welding & given that your heater outlet is forward, leads me to believe that it is a 56. Now the fact that somebody put a 59 vin on it? One can only guess.

[stale air]

The fact that the front inner apron has three ribs would lead me to believe that it's either been "clipped" or possibly just the inner apron has been replaced at some time. Because it has 3 ribs would make it a 59-60 front inner apron.
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WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames

[Peabody]

That would explain the '59 vin plate. I'll have to give it further inspection to see how far the replacement went. I'll be installing my new brake master cylinder and rubber brake hoses today. Think I'll pull the gas tank and take a look around. Thanks for the help.
_________________
'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)

[56reddy]

Look up the vin number on the chassis. It may be the original chassis to the car. If so it will tell you the exact year of the car.
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New Vintage Specialist.
1974 ghia convertible
1981 Vanagon Westfalia
Making VW’s Fun Again.(MVFA)

[Peabody]

Unfortunately the chassis (pan) is replaced with a '69 IRS. So no dice on that.
_________________
'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)

[GArBa]

[jason]

Check the nuts that hold the front fenders on. Square are 56 and earlier and the 4 hole weld in ones are later. I have a 57 that has the heater holes close to the front but has the 4 hole nuts. Check the speedo or window regulators if they are original, they are date stamped.

[jason]

In california it goes by the pan. I just had my vin verified and they only looked at the pan. I asked if he wanted to see the front and he said the pan was the one that counts and didnt even look.

[Peabody]

Wanted to give an update. I titled the car to the pan. Pretty easy to get done here in TN. On another pretty cool note I went to an old farm south of here and found a 36 hp engine that has an engine code that is from the exact same month as my oval. Does anyone know if there is an exact way to see if the engine matches the body vin? I assume that if you count from the first vin in that month with the first engine code with that month that you could see how close they are in sequence. That's assuming they kept all those numbers paired in sequence (which I wouldn't think they would but hey, they're Germans). I know it's a long shot but this could be that crazy once in a million coincidence.
_________________
'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)

[57BLITZ]

[Peabody]

If the Germans really kept up with the sequence of the body numbers and the engine numbers that is pretty amazing organization. I do know the original '56 body number because of an old title that is in the glove box. It was titled to the original tag, I assume before that front area was replaced. I will not be putting this 36 hp engine in the car but it is something I will keep in the garage for a while "just because." There will be a 2276 going in next summer to make it all the more "drivable."

Thank you for the compliment on my car. It's always nice to hear.
_________________
'71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts)