How do you decode VW VIN?

Answer 1

You'll have to look in John Muir's "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" for pre-1970 cars, but 1970s and above have a serial number that looks like this: 134 2215475 The first digit is the "type"--type 1 is the Beetle, Super Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Karmann Ghia and Thing, type 2 the Transporter, type 3 Squarebacks and Fastbacks, and type 4 is...well, the type 4. If you have one, you know it. The second digit is the specific car you have. In type 1, 1 was the Deluxe Beetle, 3 is the Super, and you'll have to fill me in on KGs, convertibles and Things. The third digit is the last digit in the model year. The last number is a one-up serial. If you are looking for a super simple solution just to get information and not figure it out go to www.decodethis.com (this website decodes vin numbers for free, except for the VINs on aircooled Volkswagens--I just tried it with the VIN on my own car, and it rejected it.).