Meaning of 3 digit vertical number on VIN plate?

[Gerrelt]

Hoi!

Does anyone know what the meaning is of the small vertical number on the VIN plate? I mean the VIN plate that's in the front of the beetle, near the spare wheel. In the standard beetle behind the spare wheel, and for the 1302 and 1303 super beetles on the front edge of the trunk.
The number is at least present on the plates of the 1970s (beginning?) beetles.

This is the number from a standard beetle (1300) from 1973, number 102:

And this is the number from a 1972 super beetle (model year 1973), number 183:

I miss the type plate for my super beetle, and I want to make a reproduction. But I don't know what that number should be. It probably does not matter what number I use, but I was curious for its meaning.
The first digit (1) probably means the type 1 VW.
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[gt1953]

Now I am gonna have to go out and see what numbers are on the plate. Hopefully there will be a reasonable explanation.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[sb001]

I can tell you that number is not on my 69 so they must have started with the 70 year models
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1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
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[Gerrelt]

Yeah, I think they started doing this in the seventees.

Today I received my reproduction plates:

I am happy with it!

Allthough it's not like the original, I think it will look good on the car.
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[Gerrelt]

The final result:

I am happy with it.

I never found the meaning of the 3 digit vertical number, though..
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[Bama Dave]

I am hoping to see some of the older (wiser?) guys chime in here in what those numbers mean.
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David Richerson

1970 Beetle
1971 Super
1972 Baja

[Rome]

I don't know what the 3 digits in the circles mean... And this is after 30 active years with aircooleds.

But just for fun, take a look at the 3-digit number on your plate to the left of the hood latch; that looks like this-

If the 3 digits are the same as on your VIN plate, then I know what the connection is.

[Never Convicted]

"Today I received my reproduction plates: "

Received from where ?

[Gerrelt]

From a laser engraving shop.

@Rome: I will check it if I get the chance, but I think it was a different number.
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[bnam]

I'd like to know what these numbers stand for as well. Surprised that I not already known.

My '71 1302LS (RHD) vert has "156"

Byas

[Gerrelt]

Thanks for sharing your number, bnam!

I am still curious too, and I did some investigation.
My theory is that the first 2 numbers designate the model, and the last one tells something about the engine and/or luxury level.

And these model numbers I've discovered:

10: standard beetle
14: standard beetle? (strange number from India)
15: super beetle 1302 (first type?)
16: super beetle 1302 (second type?)
18: super beetle 1303

The third number could mean:
1: 1200 cc engine
2: 1300 cc engine
4: ??
3: automatic?
5: "S" model, 1600 cc engine
6: "LS" model, luxury and 1600 cc engine

But this third number is more vague then the model numbers...

Please see for yourself, and make your own conclusions.
This is all based on these numbers I found on the internet and my own numbers:

101 Standard beetle, Probably 1200 cc, modelyear 1974, the Netherlands
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/103458.jpg

101 Standard beetle, 1200 cc, modelyear 1974, the Netherlands
http://www.keversite.nl/fotoalbum/fotos/37113.jpg

102 Standard beetle, Probably 1300 ccc, modelyear 1970, the Netherlands
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz299/hpdeman/PA300258.jpg

102 Standard beetle, 1300 cc, modelyear 1973, the Netherlands
http://images.gerrelt.nl/misc/vraag_nummer_typeplaatje/typeplaatje_1300_1973_nummer.jpg

144 Standard beetle, 1300 cc, modelyear 1972, LHD, sunroof, plate in French, found in India
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/post-war...-plate.jpg
This is an oddball number, and the number is hardly readable, but it is 144 according to the forum thread:

155 Super beetle 1302 S, 1600 cc, modelyear 1971, RHD, British
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q472/neelkavia/Mobile%20Uploads/20150824_083004.jpg

155 Super beetle 1302 S, 1600 cc, modelyear 1971, RHD, British
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy114/bazibbo/1...pr3vx5.jpg

155 Super beetle 1302, engine unknown, modelyear 1971, America?
http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Volkswagen/71-VW_SuperBeetle-DV-08_HHCC_e01.jpg

156 Super beetle 1302 LS, 1600 cc, convertible, modelyear 1971, RHD, America?
Thesamba user "bnam"

156 Super beetle 1302 LS, 1600 cc, convertible, modelyear 1971, Germany
http://www.chris-notes.com/wp-content/gallery/2011...sauber.jpg

163 Super beetle 1302, 1200 cc, modelyear 1972, Italy (has Italy-only 1200 cc engine, because of taxes)
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff186/doctorsatansrobot/1302/20150728_201548_zpshgmqczxq.jpg

183 Super beetle 1303 automatic, 1600 cc(?), modelyear 1973, sunroof, Germany
http://images.gerrelt.nl/misc/vraag_nummer_typeplaatje/typeplaatje_1303_1972_nummer.jpg
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[GArBa]

another theory could be that those numbers are a part number for the plate itself. thus, the type id may just be the first number "1" (i have seen type 3 plates having a "3" there) while the others identify the different information pre-stamped on the plate; if we limit our observation to weights, we have:

01 - 1140 490 710

02 - 1200 490 730

44 - 1200 and trailer weight (in french)

55 - 1270 530 760

56 - 1280 530 760

63 - 1270 and nothing else

83 - 1290 540 760

the second two digits (or even the entire number) may be a progressive code assigned to the different types of plate to be later used on the line to punch the VIN of the car.
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[bnam]

The plate on the car from India reads 166 not 144.

Interesting thing about that plate. For Typ it says 117AB1 -- instead of just 11 or 15. What do the remaining items indicate?

Byas

[Maddel]

For what it's worth...
These numbers seem do be on other typ VWs too, eg.:

Typ 17 (Golf 1 aka Rabbit)

Typ 183 (Iltis)
http://forum.vw-183.de/read.php?5,9778,9940

By the way, I wrote e-mails to www.volkswagen-classicparts.de and [email protected] asking them about the meaning of these digits.
It was of no avail. They have no clue and in their replys they referred to each other as an alternative contact to clarify the issue.
Quite indifferent and I kind of expected this outcome...

[Gerrelt]

[Maddel]

[Ttauriola]

Here is a picture of my friends 1972 model year 1302 LS (convertible) VIN plate.

[ricaroo]

[Rome]

Thanks for the link, ricaroo. Yes, I was aware that the 3 horizontal digits determined the production date of the car. I was actually hoping that the 2 or 3 vertically stamped numbers which are often found on the left end of that tag (but not shown in my shot above) would've been the same as those on the OP's tag.

[GArBa]

Ttauriola's pic seems to confirm my theory, just now I noticed I made an error in reading the pic at the beginning of the thread and the linked "156" plate should be corrected as below...