Date:         Sat, 27 Sep 1997 21:47:32 -0400
Reply-To:     averill@LDL.NET
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:         George Averill <averill@LDL.NET>
Subject:      How can I tell what year - Replies
Comments: cc: RMPresents@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>Pass the VIN number along please.  I just bought a 90 Westy and would love to
>know the specs.  I still have the number of my old 87.  That would be great
>also.
>
>Thank You for your help.
>
>Rob

I hope this helps all who may have missed the replies to my message asking
for help in determining the year of my Vanagon.

Joel Walker replied:
VIN Interpretation: for model years 1981-1991.
(model year 1980 is the same as 1968-1979)
*
                                                 WV2YB0259DH000000
Manufacturing Country ---------------------------x||||| ||||     |
W - Germany                                       ||||| ||||     |
Manufacturer -------------------------------------x|||| ||||     |
V - Volkswagen                                     |||| ||||     |
Vehicle Type --------------------------------------x||| ||||     |
1 - Pickup Truck                                    ||| ||||     |
2 - MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle)                     ||| ||||     |
Vehicle Series -------------------------------------x|| ||||     |
U - 1980-91 Single-Cab Pickup (Pritschewagen)        || ||||     |
V - 1980-91 Double-Cab Pickup (Dopplekabine)         || ||||     |
W - 1980-91 Panel Van (no windows in sides)          || ||||     |
X - 1980-91 Kombi                                    || ||||     |
Y - 1980-91 Bus (Vanagon)                            || ||||     |
Z - 1980-91 Camper                                   || ||||     |
Engine Series ---------------------------------------x| ||||     |
A - 4-Cylinder Gasoline (Air-Cooled)                  | ||||     |
B - 4-Cylinder Gasoline (Water-Cooled)                | ||||     |
G - 4-Cylinder Diesel (Water-cooled)                  | ||||     |
Restraint System -------------------------------------x ||||     |
9 - Passive (seat belts)                                ||||     |
Model --------------------------------------------------x|||     |
21 - Kastenwagen (panel) 25 - Vanagon                    |||     |
22 - Caravelle  26 - Pritsche (pickup)                   |||     |
23 - Kombi      27 - Krankenwagen                        |||     |
24 - Transporter        (ambulance)                      |||     |
VIN check digit (Manufacturer's Internal Code) ----------x||     |
Vehicle model year ---------------------------------------x|     |
B - 1981 E - 1984 H - 1987 L - 1990                        |     |
C - 1982 F - 1985 J - 1988 M - 1991                        |     |
D - 1983 G - 1986 K - 1989                                 |     |
Assembly plant --------------------------------------------x     |
E - Emden                                                        |
G - Graz (Austria. normally for Syncro models)                   |
H - Hannover (most buses assembled here)                         |
Sequential production number -------------------------------xxxxxx

Ari Ollikainen replied:
1980: 24_A_000001 - 24_A_999999
1981: 24_B_000001 - 24_B_999999
1982: 24_C_000001 - 24_C_999999
1983: 24_D_000001 - 24_D_999999
1984: 24_E_000001 - 24_E_999999
1985: 24_F_000001 - 24_F_999999
1986: 24_G_000001 - 24_G_999999
1987: 24_H_000001 - 24_H_999999
1988: 24_J_000001 - 24_J_999999
1989: 24_K_000001 - 24_J_999999
1990: 24_L_000001 - 24_L_999999
      25_L_000001 - 25_L_999999
1991: 24_M_000001 - 24_M_999999
      25_M_000001 - 25_M_999999

Dunno what happened to "I" other than German thoroughness didn't let them
create any ambiguity through confusion with the numeral "1" (one).


There was also a posting that the year is stamped on the driver's door
frame.  I think the actual "year" model can be the next year depending on
the month it was built.

Hope this helps.

George

In Columbus, GA