VW Beetle Type 1 VIN (Chassis) and Engine Serial Numbers (1948-1979)

Not sure of the model year of your VW-based buggy's chassis and/or engine?

Check your buggy's chassis serial number (a.k.a. vehicle identification number or VIN) using the "VW VIN decoder" table below. Your VW chassis serial number (VIN) can be found on top of the frame's "tunnel", just forward of the transmission linkage access cover (i.e., under the rear seat in a VW bug).

To determine the year of manufacture of your VW engine, compare the engine's serial number against the numbers in the last column in the table below. The engine serial number can be found on the crankcase at the generator/alternator support flange. Note that "replacement" VW engine cases have no engine serial number.

Model year 1973 or earlier is currently the "magic number" for Califonia smog-check purposes.

VW Beetle (a.k.a. "Bug") Type 1 (1948-1979)
Model Year Starting Chassis Serial No. (VIN) Starting Engine Serial No.
194872 7431-100 788
194991 9211-122 649
1950138 5541-169 913
1951220 1331-265 600
1952313 8291-379 470
1953428 1561-519 136
1954 575 415 1-0695282
1955 781 885 1-0945527
1956 1 020 746 1-1120615
1957 1 394 119 1-4595946
1958 1 600 440 1-937450
1959 2 226 206 2-721-313
1960 2 528 668 3-072-320
1961 3 192 507 5-000-001
1962 4 010 995 5-958-948
1963 4 846 836 6-935-204
1964 5 677 119 7-893-119
1965 115 000 001 8-796-623
1966 116 000 001 F-0-000-001
1967 117 000 001 H-0-204-001
1968 118 000 001 H-0-204-001
1969 119 000 001 H-5-414-586
1970 110 2000 001 B-6-000-001
1971 111 2000 001 AE-0-005-901
1972 112 2000 000 AE-0-558-001 (USA)
AE-0-000-001 (Calif.)
1973 113 2000 001
113 2000 001
113 2212 117		 AH-0-005-901 (Calif.)
AE-0-917-264 (USA)
AK-0-000-001 (USA)
1974 114 2000 001 AK-0-239-365 (USA)
AH-0-101-889 (Calif.)
1975 115 2000 001 AJ-0-000-001
1976 116 2000 001 AJ-0-012-406
1977 117 2000 001 AJ-0-095-936
1978 118 2000 001 AJ-0-119-688
1979 159 2000 001 AJ-0-200-000
Last updated Wed Apr 25 13:35:37 PDT 2007

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