The below chart was posted to the Vanagon list by Joel Walker. It applies to Vanagon VINs.
On the Vanagon, the VIN is located on the dashboard on the driver's side. It can be viewed from outside the van, looking in through the windshield. The VIN is also on a sticker that is visible when the driver's door is open. The sticker is on the lower part of the door frame, near the seat.
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
For Buses and other air-cooled VWs from roughly 1967-1979, a different format was used for the VIN. The VIN followed a format like xxx xxx xxxxx.
The first three numbers of the VIN tell you the most about the vehicle. For example, the '78 Bus I used to have started its VIN with 228. The first number gives the model type of the vehicle, in this case a Type 2, or "Bus." The second number is basically a subdivision of the model line. For example, My '78 Bus was a 7-passenger model. Campers or panel vans would have different middle numbers. The third digit tells you the year of the vehicle. Mine was a 1978 Bus, hence the third digit is an 8.
This works also with other cars. For example, the Beetle I once had had a VIN that started with 115, indicating a Type 1, a Beetle, and the 1975 model year. The Karmann Ghia I currently have has a VIN starting with 144, indicating Type 1, Karmann Ghia, and 1974.
Sean Bartnik
November 6, 1997