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1950's bus questions
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BeeDubyaBugz Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:46 pm    Post subject: 1950's bus questions Reply with quote

Hi,
What year did the 3 rib vent box go away? i have what i believe to be a 1956 dd panel. There is a body number stamped in the bulkhead but no VIN for me to tell what year it is. Any good indicators on what to look for to see what year it is? it is just a rolling shell minus the decklid/apron. No interior.
any help is appreciated.
thanks Smile
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66311
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If that is the M plate you see on the bulkhead you could break it down.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/id.php
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vw7266
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

too early for a m code tag
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EmpiGT
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The three ribs ended some time early in 1958 I think in feb. 58. And it would be pre m-code plate busses. Most early busses I've had, the body # on the bulk head was within 20000 #'s of the real vin. so look that # up and it should still narrow down the year for you. But this is for post 20-xxxxx busses, I'm not sure if it works the same for busses that had the 20- prefix.

Last edited by EmpiGT on Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:46 am; edited 2 times in total
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Clara Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:03 pm    Post subject: Re: 1950's bus questions Reply with quote

This page tells you where to look for the VIN:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/id.php

Look in the engine compartment.

just below gas tank on vertical wall right of the engine for 55-59:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

any news?
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BeeDubyaBugz Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,
the problem is the vin tag area in the engine compartment was ripped off by something. the metal looks torn. also theres no engine. I'll look at the body number tomorrow to see what it is.
Thanks for all the help Smile
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Post a pic of where the VIN is stamped, even if it is torn.
Don't worry about the engine, they get swapped out all the time, so rarely would it be the original one to the bus.

Post pics.
For example, does the frame under the transmission look like this?
(tubular)
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


or this (U channel)
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

if the tranny hoop is round it is mid-55 to mid-56
if it's square them it's late 56-58
that should narrow down the year better
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll try to get some pics later this afternoon.
thanks for all the help everyone.
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

here are sme pictures. Any help on narrowing down the year would be great. This is a cool panel van I bought from a buddy and I have hopes to restore it someday. It is ROUGH... I am just finishing my 1964 21 window so it may be a while before i get to it Smile

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

it looks like someone used your vin for another bus
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Above you said you would post the body #, from behind the passenger side front seat, if it is there.
What is it?

That will narrow it down greatly, as someone listed above.
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///Mink
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

BeeDubyaBugz wrote:
here are sme pictures. Any help on narrowing down the year would be great. This is a cool panel van I bought from a buddy and I have hopes to restore it someday. It is ROUGH... I am just finishing my 1964 21 window so it may be a while before i get to it Smile

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



That sucks. How can you even register it now? You can't use the body number on the bulkhead, that's not the VIN.
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's not a wolfsburg built bus, so that puts it mid 56 or later. What style engine lid does it have and tail lights?

I just looked back and you said no engine lid. Does it have the factory openings for the tail lights? If so are they just one round hole or do they have small holes top and bottom?


Last edited by EmpiGT on Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:52 am; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

///Mink wrote:
BeeDubyaBugz wrote:
here are sme pictures. Any help on narrowing down the year would be great. This is a cool panel van I bought from a buddy and I have hopes to restore it someday. It is ROUGH... I am just finishing my 1964 21 window so it may be a while before i get to it Smile

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



That sucks. How can you even register it now? You can't use the body number on the bulkhead, that's not the VIN.


You could make a new # and stamp it in. Not saying it's right, or legal, but it could be done pretty easily.
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

thats not true especially in the 50s.............it was very common for the # on the title to be either the bulkhead # or engine #.........in fact its rare to have the actual vin on the title of a bus this early.........dmv loves to use the bulkhead # by the way.......they hate the one marked behind the greasy engine in the cramped engine bay
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Both my 57's have the correct VIN #, but I have seen the DMV use whatever # was available. I had a 60 single cab that was titled as a 62, and the VIN # was an old engine #.
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

it looks to have the U-channel on the bottom like the post above. so according to the post its a late 56-58.
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///Mink
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hugheseum wrote:
thats not true especially in the 50s.............it was very common for the # on the title to be either the bulkhead # or engine #.........in fact its rare to have the actual vin on the title of a bus this early.........dmv loves to use the bulkhead # by the way.......they hate the one marked behind the greasy engine in the cramped engine bay


I wouldn't say it's rare. My '57 is titled to the true VIN, as has been every VW I've ever owned. True, the DMV sometimes mistakenly used the body number as the VIN, but that doesn't make it the rule rather than the exception.
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