Another Weird VIN Cry For Help

[averyo]

I'll take some better photos this weekend but here is detail on the rear decklid. No engine access, no spare tire cutout, just a small round access panel for the gas tank sending unit.

[alman72]

the spare tire blank is very odd. cool stuff. that fuel sender cover looks like it may be vw dealer added.

[coolerthanelvis]

It's a bench-seat model. Does the spare tire stow under the front seats like a truck? That would mean there's no reason to have a spare cutout in the rear.

Another indicator on year is the gas cap. The flap went away and was replaced by the external cap in 1974.
_________________
Shawn
SV2s member #420
'68 Westy

"Do or do not, there is no try."
-Silent Bob

[Wildthings]

The picture inicates that it could be a much later model. You can see a partial embossment for the '73 and later engine lid and then the cutout for the '79 fuel sender access hole. Since Transporter production moved to Mexico circa 1980 I am going to guess that you have a 1980 or later Mexican Transporter.

[Globespotter]

I'm inclined to think this is a European spec 1974 panel - maybe France. I am willing to bet that the deletion of the spare tire hole and engine access were a spec on certain European panel models, plus the lack of windshield VIN.

It points to being pretty stock on all items for a 1974 if the European specs had those different options. It's pretty obvious that the stamping shows the option for both engine access lid and spare tire hole, but for a panel van, that may not have made sense if intended to have shelves and cargo loaded there.
_________________
1977 Westfalia - October 2015 - Current
1971 Super Beetle - May 2012 - Current
1979 Westfalia - 1986-1991
1971 Super Beetle - 1977-1980

1971 SB Survivor Story: https://globespotter.com/
Road Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511800&highlight=
My 77 Westy Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647114&highlight=

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=30990
https://vw-type2-id.xyz/mplate/72067382

[Wildthings]

[bnam]

My 71 also has a flat loading deck with no recess for the spare. It has the full partition in front and the spare is designed to sit under the front center seat.
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1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[jtauxe]

[averyo]

This is all great info folks, thanks so much!

I had a 72 double door years ago that had a walkthrough and spare tire cutout in the rear decklid, so this one surprised me a bit. It does have a bench front seat and likely room for a spare tire.

I'll share more photos this weekend. Lots of the stock features have been messed up from some previous owners trying to make it into a party van. I'm trying to save this one from the Hall of Shame!

A question from an earlier post:
-Gas cap is exposed and flush like late 70s models, no flap.

[Wildthings]

US spec '74 models had the later style gas filler. The filler pipe itself changed again a bit later, maybe midyear in '75 or at least with the '76 models.