Syncro VIN decoding - need help

[andersencollectibles]

Gang how can i tell by the vin if the car is a Syncro?

Anyone has the combo? and knows the tell tell, without looking at the M options plate?

thanks

[OddN]

[Steve M.]

http://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=110

A bit about Vin decoding. This article from GW will tell you.

_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Steve M.]

Some more notes on it i collected from somewhere.

Notes:
a) The four Z's stamped into your vehicle's chassis are simply filler digits during initial assembly ~ all VWs are built this way. During final assembly, the vehicle receives its official VIN that you see on the dash: For USA/Canada, the Z's are replaced by the required digit information; for all other countries, the Z's remain (countries outside North America do not require the info provided by digits 4, 5, 6 & 9). If the rest of the VIN matches up to the dash and/or door jamb VIN, everything is fine.

b) Chassis number: Chassis number is specifically the year digit + sequential production number digits in the VIN. Many times parts are dependent upon your car's chassis number, which is VIN-dependent, often called a VIN-split. An example of this:
To 25-E-11290
From 25-E-11291

The "25" is not always used. The "To E-11290" would indicate the part is for all Vanagons up to 1984 (E) with VIN sequential production number of 11290.

c) All 1981+ Vanagon VINs are 17-digits and begin with "WV".
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VINs outside North America, and the VINs found stamped into the rain tray (or crossmember) of all water-cooled VWs with 17-digit VINs, contain four "Z"s. For North American VWs, these are merely filler digits. The rain tray VINs were standard issue as the cars rolled off the initial phase of the assembly line; the only difference between these standard-issue model-year VINs is the sequential production number. Locations outside of the USA & Canada do not require the same VIN information (many locations, including Europe, still require only a 13-digit VIN) and, therefore, use filler digits during stamping to make the initial assembly process easier and faster.

For example, if 30,000 Cabriolets were built for the 1985 model year, the first Cabriolet built for that year would have WVWZZZ15ZFK000001, while the last 1985 Cabriolet would have a WVWZZZ15ZFK030000 stamped into the rain tray. As the cars went through final assembly, they received their official, individual VINs based on their destination; it was at this time that North American Cabriolets obtained their non-"Z" VINs, while cars destined for sale in Europe received the "Z" VIN on the door plate, the dash plate and on the build sheet. Using the same example, that first 1985 Cabriolet was destined for, let's say, the USA; it's official VIN would be WVWCA0158FK000001 (the internal check code varies and may not actually be an 8 ). The last Cabriolet for 1985 was destined for, let's say, Italy; it's official VIN would be WVWZZZ15Z030000.

The Westmoreland plant followed the same VIN stamping procedures as all other VW factories; therefore, all USA-built VWs will also contain filler Z's in the stamped VIN, regardless of the model.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[OddN]

Another thing, both the model year and assembly plant uses letters, and some of them are the same, so dont get over excited when you see a "G" in the VIN: An -86 2wd produced in Hannover has GH***** in the VIN and an -87 syncro from Graz has HG***** in the same place.

The link in Steves post contains an extended list with all the digit alternatives listed.
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1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD

[iathon]

Okay so the last digits of a van I am looking at is 4GH056073 SO this is a 2wd ????
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Iathon

[crazyvwvanman]

That Vin# is from a Hanover made vehicle so not for a Syncro.

Don't go by just the dash vin# though, always check the others since the dash or the dash vin plate are easily moved between vehicles.

Also, some very late 2wd were built in Graz so they have a G for Graz but are not Syncro. AFAIK, some 90/91/92

Mark

[caravelle c]