Date:         Tue, 16 Apr 1996 16:29:37 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "David Easterwood" <deasterw@st6000.sct.edu>
Subject:      Re: Number Detective Work (was RE: Splitty Chassis/dating)


Tom,

There are some differences between '65 and '66  that are immediately 
noticeable.  The most obvious is the engine decklid and rear apron.  
The '65 has the "church-key" type while the '66 (and '67 has the 
"finger-pull" latch type.  The rear view mirror also changed between 
'65 & '66.

The other one I can think of off the top of my head is the wiper 
motor.  The '65 has a seperate wiper motor with linkages going to the 
wiper shafts.  The '66 has a one piece unit that has the motor, 
linkages, and wiper shafts all together.

I do have chassis number information that I have not formatted yet to 
go on the NEATO Technical Data Page (along with a ton of other stuff!).
I will try to get it up sometime this week (plus the Links Page).

Dave

>>Easiest if you check out the NEATO web site - it contains info on datind and
>>deciphering plates and also has paint codes M nos model nos ..and a whole
>>bunch of intersting stuff. 
>
>Dave is talking about http://www.mindspring.com/~deasterw/neato.html
>I had used that site to decode the optional equipment and paint codes,
>and to confirm that the first three digits of the VIN indicated it was
>a Standard Microbus, RH Cargo Doors, LH Drive, so a big thanks to Dave 
>Easterwood and the rest of NEATO. But there is no build sequence or
>year of manufacture data. 
>
>Anyway, your eyes are all glazing over and I still don't know the year of the subject 
>bus. I think its not a '64 because it has the later VIN format, and not a '67
>because it has the square key lock on the gas filler. So '65 or '66. Maybe the family 
>will find the paperwork, and solve the mystery, or next time I visit, I'll check
>the engine number and the rear deck lid lift.