Mplate/ vin number problem

[Wxman25]

Hello this is my first post. I just bought a 1970 Baywindow. the title says it's a 70 the vin number starts with 220xxxxx. so a microbus 70 model. However when i was doing some work on it i found it has disc brakes. and a dual port engine.
to make things more complicated the mplate on the drivers side and other plate on the passenger side make this bus a 69. those plates read as 239xxxxxx. so a kombi 69. I have reached out to the last owner who never put it in his name, and haven't heard back yet. could the body have been switched like some of the beetles?

any help or advice would be great, thanks.
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[KentABQ]

Hi wxman... Welcome to The Samba.

Vin and M-plate questions come up a lot. When you get a chance, post pics of all the numbers you find. Guys on here are great at seeing which plates are original and which have been fooled with.

Whether it's a 69 or a 70, you're doing good to have disc brakes on it. That means someone in the past has put some care and money into it.

Oh... and no, the body can't be changed out like a beetle. It's uniframe construction.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[Wxman25]

_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[KentABQ]

Well, the M-plate has obviously been changed. They are pop riveted from the back at the factory. But the one in yours is riveted in front.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[Wxman25]

Oh really?! What does that mean?
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[67ctbug]

M-Plate is switched, it should have rivets that are painted.
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[Wxman25]

Great... so now what? Should I take them off? The title has a diffrent number.
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[67ctbug]

M-Plate is from a '69 Westy.
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[Wxman25]

Well it's a tin top with no camping interior
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[KentABQ]

Someone more knowledgable than me will have to answer that one.

I'm not that familiar with early bays. On later bays, there are vin numbers on the dash (driver's side) and in the engine bay on the driver's side. Can you find any more numbers anywhere on yours?
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[KentABQ]

To the left of the m-plate is the original (maybe) color code for your bus. So if you don't know what the original color was, that's your answer.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[Wxman25]

I looked on the dash but didn't see one. The bus is at paint and body right now. So I'm walking around people to get the numbers. Also I didn't see a number on the engine bay. Maybe it's been painted over.
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[67ctbug]

Engine bay number is stamped, I believe '70 would have a riveted tag on the dash board with the vin. You might have something bad on your hands...
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[busdaddy]

Scooby says "Ruh Roh!", those plates have been reattached, could be an issue.
The number that really matters is beside the battery in the engine compartment, what does that one say?

_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[KentABQ]

Here is a 1970 owner's manual...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/manuals70.php

Look at pages 2 and 6. It shows correct locations of vins and m-plates.

Edit: Ya beat me to it, Bus daddy!
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[Wxman25]

I haven't been able to find the engine number yet. I will go to the painter tomorrow and look again
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[Wxman25]

Why would someone replace the plates?
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?

[KentABQ]

You might consider putting a hold on the paint and body work until the VIN mystery has been solved.

Switched ID and M-plates...
non-responsive previous owner who didn't hold title...

Those are a couple red flags that makes Scooby wonder what happened in the past.
Have you been able to put the title in your name? If so, you may have a drivable bus for your pleasure, but could be troublesome to sell to the next guy if he knows what he's looking at.

I'm crossing my fingers for you, wxman. Hope it all turns out well for you.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[KentABQ]

[Wxman25]

I have a title, registration and lifetime plates in my name. I guess this bus is a keeper.
_________________
i wish i had a catchy phrase but I have nothing
VW BAY BUS 1971 don't know original color.
Should I do a shag interior?