TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1985 or 1986 Westfalia? reg says 1985 ~ SOLVED

Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:30 pm

my registration say my Vanagon is 1985. the head lights seem to be 1986. how do I confirm its birth date?

Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:37 pm

If the 10th digit in the VIN is an F, the van is an '85 that simply had a headlight/grille swap. If the 10th digit is a G, it's an '86.

Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:42 pm

800-DRIVEVW can give you a VIN-based birthdate.

Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:48 pm

Try this: https://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=110

These used to be an online MPlate decoder but I can't seem to find it right now.

Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:48 pm

Thats an ‘85 color.

Kinda cool.
Edgy.
Like it deserves its own pronoun. :lol: :lol:

Sat Oct 12, 2019 4:46 pm

Kam's got the answer...legally, it's all based on VIN. Just curious, what engine you got in there?

- Dave

Sat Oct 12, 2019 4:53 pm

It's a special edition, good weather only driving, hence the no wipers.

Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:11 pm

dhaavers wrote: Kam's got the answer...legally, it's all based on VIN. Just curious, what engine you got in there?

- Dave
see my photos and you tell me. I am newbie.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGsXYAs

Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:11 pm

Wellington wrote: It's a special edition, good weather only driving, hence the no wipers.
had them off to paint them.

Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:13 pm

kamzcab86 wrote: If the 10th digit in the VIN is an F, the van is an '85 that simply had a headlight/grille swap. If the 10th digit is a G, it's an '86.
I have many photos here to help identify any weird stuff. https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGsXYAs

Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:28 pm

Wellington wrote: It's a special edition, good weather only driving, hence the no wipers.
desert tan color---= no rain in desert

Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:15 pm

scot marechaux wrote: dhaavers wrote: Kam's got the answer...legally, it's all based on VIN. Just curious, what engine you got in there?

- Dave
see my photos and you tell me. I am newbie.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGsXYAs

A very original-looking 2.1, which also points to it being an '86. Is the shiny paint quite new?

- Dave

Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:31 pm

The cover over the relay box appears to be for a 2.1L. Few people doing an engine swap would bother swapping the cover. I know I didn't when I did my 1.9 to 2.1L swap.

Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:46 am

We need a photo of the build plate on the driver's B pillar. Nice looking van!!

Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:59 pm

Scott, the pics are nice but do not answer the question... your VIN number is the authoritative way to tell the year. This will appear in at least 4 places on your van as well as on your title.

Easiest VIN to locate should be on a plate visible through your windshield, if you are standing in front of the van it will be in the lower right riveted to your dash. Other spots would be sticker on your b pillar, stamped into the frame cross member approximately underneath the passenger seat, and on the sticker under your dash close to the fuses.

Regardless, your van appears to be in very good original shape... not something I would expect to find in the northeast!

Sun Oct 13, 2019 7:46 pm

The sticker says engine code DH which is a 1.9. I am pretty sure that LL1M paint was a 1985 only color (best color ever BTW). Over the course of the last 35 years, someone loved this van enough to update the grill and engine from a newer van.

Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:06 pm

scot marechaux wrote:

Confirmed: Your van is a 1985 model year vehicle (an early '85 at that) and is titled/registered correctly. The van has simply been updated. :wink:

Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:57 pm

Yellow Rabbit wrote: The sticker says engine code DH which is a 1.9. I am pretty sure that LL1M paint was a 1985 only color (best color ever BTW). Over the course of the last 35 years, someone loved this van enough to update the grill and engine from a newer van.

I have a 1986 syncro westy from Canada that is factory LL1M, I *love* this color.

Before repaint:

After repaint (and SA headlights and RMW bumpers and truck mirrors)

Mon Oct 14, 2019 3:56 pm

An on-line VIN decoder for USA Vanagons is here:
https://www.vanagons.org/

Scroll down - it's at the bottom.

Jim Davis
(Wishing I had the 1983-1985 pages done now!)

Tue Oct 15, 2019 12:25 pm

SyncroButter wrote:

I have a 1986 syncro westy from Canada that is factory LL1M, I *love* this color.

In that case, I hope you've perused the Beige Vanagon Appreciation Thread...One of my favorites:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597672&highlight=beige++vanagon++appreciation