1967 Confusing VIN Number

[eliotc]

I've just bought a 1967 Type 3 Squareback. It'll be parked alongside my split screen bus and will bring my air cooled collection to 2 My first ever Type 3. I'm quite thrilled - it's a cute little thing.

The vin plate located under the hood and the number stamped on the chassis underneath the rear seat both coincide. Engine number starts T030, so could even be the OG engine (July or August 1966 54hp 1600cc)

I'm a little confused by model and chassis numbers. My first question relates to the model number. Looking at various lists of model numbers available on this site, I should be seeing a 3 digit number e.g. 361, 362 etc. The VIN plate shows "Typ 36". And the chassis number starting with 36. Is there a 3 digit type/model number elsewhere that I should be looking for?

Also, M Codes. My Bus has M Codes on it's VIN plate which shows where it was manufactured, where it was shipped to, any options fitted, and how things should be i.e. LHD, Cargo Doors Right etc etc. I can't see any of this stuff here. I see mention of Type 3 M codes on various web sites, but none shown on the VIN plate.

For clarification, the type 3 has the script "VARIANT" "1600L" so I'm guessing it's not a US vehicle. It was in South America so I'd suppose that it was manufactured in Brazil, however the VIN plate clearly says "VOLKSWAGENWERK AG MADE IN GERMANY". It has a KM speedo.

But it's the VIN number that's really confusing me: 367032463. This tells me that it's a Type 3 Squareback (36), MY 1967 (7). I've read that the 3rd digit suggests the decade (1st, 2nd) of Type 3 production, so that makes mine decade 0 (0)??. I believe that the rest of the VIN, is the serial number (32463). However, that doesn't coincide with the list of Type 3 VIN/Chassis numbers found on this site: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/serialnumberst3.php) so according to this web page, the last chassis number of year 1967 is 318 102 506. There was never a Type 3 with a chassis number starting 32XXX.

Finally, engine number. Anyone know if these days we can determine rapidly if something has it's OG engine? With my bus I had to contact the VW Classic Museum in Germany and they sent me "by post" a certificate - surely we've moved on since then??

Sorry, these questions MUST have been asked a million times before, but I'll be damned if I can find them here

[ibjack]

Your VIN plate is correct for a 67 squareback. M codes do not show on the VIN plates like busses.
_________________
'68 Lotus White T34 automatic sunroof
'64 Manila Yellow T34
'65 Sea Blue Square Panel
the1500club.com
Shop Lacky at the T3/34 Factory, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094313902074

[eliotc]

[Tram]

[sjbartnik]

[Bobnotch]

If you look at the VIN numbers, yours has 9 digits total, where the example you used from the list shows 10 numbers. This is because that 2 (for 2nd gen) in the number was added for the 70 models, and is used thru 73.
If you're looking for M codes, you'll have to apply for a birth certificate from VW. That's the only place that will have them (and even then, maybe not).
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[eliotc]

Thanks Guys....Maybe I'm being a dumbass, as I'm still not getting it. I realise that the frst 3 digits represent model and year.

So my (complete, incl. Model and Year) chassis number is:

36 7 032463

36: Type 3 Squareback. I understand that bit.
7: 1967. I understand that bit too.

The remainder being my chassis number:

032463

But, if you scroll down to year 1967 of the previously mentioned Samba page which shows years and their corresponding chassis number range. You will see that the first row shows:

JAN 317 151 263

At the head of the page it says: "the VIN/chassis number begins with the 2-digit model number, i.e. 31 for Fastbacks,36 for Squarebacks, etc.

Therefore, that chassis number above for JAN 1967 indicates:

Model 31: Fastback.
7: 1967.
And 151 263 being the sequential chassis number.

On that basis, my number of 367 032 463 represents:
Model number 36: Squareback.
7: 1967.
And 032 463 being the sequential chassis number.

However, the final chassis number of JAN 1965 was XXX 121 092, which if these are sequential is AFTER mine (mine is 032 463). I have to go back to SEP 1964 to see in which month mine was manufactured. The final chassis number for SEP 1964 was XXX 047 195. But if that is the case, and the 3rd digit represents year, my third digit should be 4, and not 7. That would completely change things making my Type 3 to be from 1964.

I also doubt that the 3rd digit represent the year. If you follow the models link, (https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/modelstype3.php) it says that each model (Notch, Fast,Square) has a 3rd digit which narrows it down even further, based on being LHD, RHD etc.

Therefore, 367 (the first three digits of my chassis number specifies that it can be:

367 1500/1500N Squareback Sedan LHD with steel sliding roof 8/63 - 7/65

OR

367 1600A Squareback Sedan LHD with steel sliding roof From 8/65

Mine neither has a 1500 engine, nor a steel sliding roof.

Would love to be corrected on this. Any ideas?

[eliotc]

[eliotc]

Hang on a second....I've got it!!!

New model years start in AUGUST. AND EVERY MONTH THE NUMBERS RESET TO ZERO. Mr Samba, can we make that clear on the website, please.

Last car of AUG67 was 317 032 409. That was a Type 31 Notch for the 67 model year.

Last car of JUL67 was 316 316 238. That too was a Type 31 Notch for the 66 model year.

First car of AUG67 was XX7 000 001. So my car is the Thirty Two Thousandth Four Hundred and Sixty 3rd car of August 1967.

As for the 3rd digit of the model number i.e. 365, 366 etc etc. I still have no idea if that appears anywhere on my car. It's certainly not on the VIN plate. I guess a cert. from Germany will confirm that.

Thanks for putting up with me guys!!!

[EverettB]

Yes, I was about to post that info but you figured it out.

The numbers reset each year (not month) from 1965 on where the year is encoded inside the VIN #.

One correction:
The last VIN # for August, 1966 (1967 model year) is: 317 032 409

Your 1967 Squareback is: 367 032 463

So your car was built in September, 1966. Near the start of September since it's so close to the end of August, 1966.

The full model # like 365 does not appear anywhere on the VIN plates.
Only 31/36/34 appear
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[eliotc]

Spot on Everett.

Thanks so much. All clear now.

Now I can get on with driving it.

Thank you.

[notchback]

Just to muddle things further, the Notchback and Fastback were both Type 31's.
_________________

[Bobnotch]

[SHAFFERHB]

Hello,
I have been following this thread but I am still having a hard time. Can you please let me know? 36 6 275593
Is this the entire VIN?
_________________
Randy Shaffer
[email protected]

[SHAFFERHB]

_________________
Randy Shaffer
[email protected]

[KTPhil]

[SHAFFERHB]

_________________
Randy Shaffer
[email protected]

[SHAFFERHB]

@KTPhil - Thank you very much!
_________________
Randy Shaffer
[email protected]

[DQDan]

Thanks for all the decoding lessons guys. Since the data is missing for 1969

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/serialnumberst3.php

My VIN is 369 203467. I'm guessing since in past years it was approx April before they built their 20,000 car of the model year (!!!!) my car was likely built in the same time frame of 1969. Would that make sense or were they ramping up or sluffing off? How would 69 have been different than other years?

[WarPony83]

Hi, throwing in my 2 cents worth... speaking of the chassis/engine s/n list in the technical section here on TheSamba... I noticed that the list for Type I and Type II each shows the exact same engine s/n for the last vehicles produced in each month ! i.e: Type I Jul 57 shows engine S/N 1937052. Type II Jul 57 shows same engine S/N. what up wid dat