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Fri Sep 06, 2024 7:03 am

Just got my birth certificate and had a couple questions:
-If I supplied the engine serial number and it got placed on the cert is it the factory engine?
-Does anyone know what the A72 means?

Thanks for the help.

Fri Sep 06, 2024 11:20 am

they used to say "Your engine number is the original one since date of delivery"

however if they have put the number you gave them on the certificate 'for the delivery status of your car' that should mean it was the engine in the car in july 71. otherwise they do not show an engine number (if the number you gave them was from another car)

the A72 is odd especially as 'country settlement Grea(t) Britain' makes no sense and would not seem to be relevant to a usa car

Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:19 am

I am excited I just ordered a certificate for my van. I am new to owning a VW classic and I am interested in finding it's history. I bought the vehicle last week from a lovely lady who's husband passed away. She has no information on it at all. Does anyone have any other helpful places to do research?

Mon Nov 04, 2024 3:19 pm

Update on Timing (to USA) and M-Codes question:
Ordered BC on 9/26/24
Received shipping tracking information email 10/17/24
Received Packet via USPS 10/28/24

Anyone know what codes M161 and M162 are for a sedan? - already checked archives listings and also codes found in spare parts listing.

Thu Dec 26, 2024 8:42 pm

Darn, I messed up I think. I just bought a Birth certificate because I wanted to see if my engine was original. I did not put an engine number on the form, only the vin and type.

Thu Dec 26, 2024 9:29 pm

I think you can email them and ask?

I'm not 100% sure on that.

Fri Dec 27, 2024 10:37 am

Thanks, I just sent an email. We will find out…

Tue Dec 31, 2024 11:04 am

Quick question. I have a 1956 oval, US spec. (bullet turn signals, overrider bumpers, MPH clear needle, etc.) beetle. My VIN is 10829** (last two digits redacted).

I ordered Birth Certificate and Data Sheet. To my surprise (and concern) the paperwork came back suggesting I have a Sept. 1948 Type 11. Although I would love to have a split I clearly do not have one. One thing I notice, on the paperwork they cite the VIN as 1-0829** (again, last two digits redacted). When I filled out the order form I was pretty sure I transposed the VIN without any hyphen.

I have reviewed this thread and it seems many people are not reading the paperwork correctly. Though I am at a loss. I would know if I had a split window. The paperwork they have sent back is the VIN number I submitted except they added in a hyphen after the 1 and are suggesting I have a 1948.

Any thoughts?

Thu Jan 02, 2025 6:38 am

Texas_1958 wrote: Quick question. I have a 1956 oval, US spec. (bullet turn signals, overrider bumpers, MPH clear needle, etc.) beetle. My VIN is 10829** (last two digits redacted).

I ordered Birth Certificate and Data Sheet. To my surprise (and concern) the paperwork came back suggesting I have a Sept. 1948 Type 11. Although I would love to have a split I clearly do not have one. One thing I notice, on the paperwork they cite the VIN as 1-0829** (again, last two digits redacted). When I filled out the order form I was pretty sure I transposed the VIN without any hyphen.

I have reviewed this thread and it seems many people are not reading the paperwork correctly. Though I am at a loss. I would know if I had a split window. The paperwork they have sent back is the VIN number I submitted except they added in a hyphen after the 1 and are suggesting I have a 1948.

Any thoughts?

01/02/2025 -Update-

I just received a response email from the customer care folks that research and put together the VW Birth Certificates and Data Sheets. They seem to acknowledge they made a slight mistake and will "correct and send a new copy as soon we get the data from the factory archives."

Sun Jan 26, 2025 6:09 pm

Kevv wrote: Just got my birth certificate and had a couple questions:
-If I supplied the engine serial number and it got placed on the cert is it the factory engine?
-Does anyone know what the A72 means?

Thanks for the help.

Wow, is the museum not really doing any error checks? 1303s were not built until August 72.

Sun Mar 30, 2025 10:42 am

i recently acquired a 56 beetle convertible and it had an existing BC from November 2010 from the prior owner. I decided to try again with my name because i was hoping to get more info with the new company that is doing them. I was right!!! It gave me the exterior color as well as the color of the convertible top. So my advice is if you havent had one ever done def do it but if you had one done years ago and were missing info, it may be worth another try

Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:23 am

Dear all,

Could anyone help with understanding how much information is possible to extract on a 1969/1970 or very late 1979 (Karmann)?

Would the latter e.g. have any Karmann specific information, does the body number plate matter or does it not provide any information beyond the chassis etc.?

Tue Aug 05, 2025 3:15 am

I read in this thread that the famous ‘birth certificate’ does not include engine number, but they will confirm whether original if you provide it.
Is the same true of gearbox type code and gearbox (serial) number?
And original carburettor type/model and modification number?
And whilst talking ‘numbers’ does anyone know what the stamped number on the steering box cover plate in the (beetle) spare wheel compartment represents? Mine reads:
3 over 0 over 275350..

Tue Aug 05, 2025 11:38 am

Chippy Senior wrote: I read in this thread that the famous ‘birth certificate’ does not include engine number, but they will confirm whether original if you provide it.
Is the same true of gearbox type code and gearbox (serial) number?
And original carburettor type/model and modification number?
And whilst talking ‘numbers’ does anyone know what the stamped number on the steering box cover plate in the (beetle) spare wheel compartment represents? Mine reads:
3 over 0 over 275350..

I have never seen any other additional information other than the factory engine #.

I don't think the gearbox serial # is stored in the records.

The carburetor type/model can be determined based on the year and engine type if you want to ask in the appropriate Beetle Forum on the site.

I'm not sure what you mean by the steering box cover plate. Do you mean on the actual steering box or something else?
Again, I would ask in a Beetle Forum and include photos if possible.

Sat Aug 23, 2025 5:53 pm

Kevv wrote: Just got my birth certificate and had a couple questions:
-If I supplied the engine serial number and it got placed on the cert is it the factory engine?
-Does anyone know what the A72 means?

Thanks for the help.

You should write back to them and ask to have the error in this certificate fixed. 1303 was not introduced until August 1972. Your car should be a 1302