1985 or 1986 Westfalia? reg says 1985 ~ SOLVED

[scot marechaux]

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

[kamzcab86]

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.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[E1]

800-DRIVEVW can give you a VIN-based birthdate.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Ahwahnee]

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.

[Sodo]

Thats an ‘85 color.

Kinda cool.
Edgy.
Like it deserves its own pronoun.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[dhaavers]

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

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Wellington]

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

[scot marechaux]

[scot marechaux]

[scot marechaux]

[scot marechaux]

[dhaavers]

[Wildthings]

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.

[Jake de Villiers]

We need a photo of the build plate on the driver's B pillar. Nice looking van!!
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[SyncroButter]

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!
_________________
Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
Gone but not forgotten: 1989 Porsche 944, 1973 Standard Beetle

[Yellow Rabbit]

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.

[kamzcab86]

[SyncroButter]

[SyncroHead]

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!)
_________________
"A Vanagon? It's not a car or a van. It's a hobby!"

Check out:
www.VANAVATION.com
www.SyncroSafari.org and
www.Vanagons.org

[joetiger]