Date:         Tue, 28 Jan 2014 13:19:45 -0800
Reply-To:     "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject:      Re: VIN # meaning
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY407-EAS2132411D2CC7C8340EB7A6FA0AD0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

the 'real' and correct way to tell what model year vanagon it is, is by
the letter in the 10th position of the VIN.
A = 1980
B = 1981
C - 1982
D = 1983
E  = 1984
F   = 1985
G  = 1986
H - 1987
I think something might change there though ..
like not using "I" perhaps since it could be taken as a 1.

I don't have an 88, 89, or 90 to look at. ( there not that many vanagons
of these years in the US that I've ever seen very much.
lots of 87's and 91's ....a fair amount of 90's .

my 91 GL made in Austria has an M for the model year 1991

I'm sure everyone knows that,  say ...an early 85 can have a production
date of 10/84.

somewhere around 8/84  or 9/84 or at least by 10/84 production date ..
it's an 85.
and *all* 85's have the improved sliding door that I've ever seen.
85 is also a transition year..
using up leftover metal main cooling pipes in production until they're
gone ..
using up the funky early style parking brake handle ..
using up left over stamped lower control arms on the front suspension ..
one other thing I can't think of right now too.

all US model 86's that I've ever seen have the upgraded fuse box too,
another way to tell an 86.

I have seen at least one European 86 or later Syncro Vanagon with the
old style fuse box though ..
and they continued round headlights in europe in some models too I believe.

10th position of the VIN ..that letter..that's the year model.

On 1/28/2014 7:27 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> 86 was significant model change year. If you have a 2.1l it is an obvious 86.
>
> Dennis,
> >From my phone.
> ________________________________
> From: Alain Thibault<mailto:alainthibault@TELUS.NET>
> Sent: ‎1/‎28/‎2014 12:04 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Re: VIN # meaning
>
> Thanks...that would mean that the van was the 41 144 th to be produced in that year 1986. I am asking because the sticker  in the door jam shows 1985 but my van is a 1986 with some 1985 (and older)  remains such as the camper light fixture (original). That bothers me because I am trying to determine if the camper wiring would be of 1985 or 1986 before installing my Gowesty aux battery kit as the instructions are different whether it is a 1985 or 1986...
>
> Le 27 janv. 2014 à 20:49, Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@gmail.com> a écrit :
>
>> http://www.vanagon.com/info/vin/index.htm
>>
>> On Jan 27, 2014, at 9:38 PM, Alain Thibault <alainthibault@TELUS.NET> wrote:
>>
>> Allo all
>> Could someone tell me the meaning of the last 6 digits of the VIN numbers, those after the letter referring to the Assembly Plant such as in this (G041144)
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Alain
>>