Every Volkswagen car has a unique identifier code called a VIN. This number contains vital information about the car, such as its manufacturer, year of production, the plant it was produced in, type of engine. On the Type 4 ('72-83) engine, the code can be found stamped just in front of the breather tower. Do not go by the code on the fan shroud, as it may not be original to that engine. For a full list of engine codes on VW cars, click here. Type 1 Engines (found on Bus thru 1971). Volkswagen engines included the 1192, 1285, 1548, 1679, 1285 and the1493 cubic-centimeter models. However, Volkswagen rounded the engine sizes up, so a 1548 cubic centimeter engine is called a Volkswagen 1600. Identification of the Volkswagen engine can by accomplished by locating the engine casting number on the engine block. Volkswagen Engine Identification This page contains original Volkswagen Engine Serial number information to help you identify your air-cooled VW's engine. Type 1 Engine Information: Click here to view our selection of VW Engine Parts (Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia).
Type 1:
VW Beetle Chassis and Engine serial numbers 1948 to 1979 – Lots of key data packed into a simple chart that can be printed out on a single page.
Dune Buggy ID Page – Most Dune Buggy’s are based on a shortened Beetle Type 1 chassis. Use the VW Chassis and Engine serial number list above to ID your chassis. However, if you are trying to ID a Dune Buggy body, this page from the Dune Buggy Archives is the place to start.
Type 2:
Type 2 M-Plate Decoder – An excellent online decoder site for your Volkswagen van, bus or Westfalia. Covers both split window vans and bay window vans. Decodes the entire M-plate and includes the bit of information included in the serial number.
All Models:
Engine Code Letters for the Volkswagen – Scans of a factory information guide on engine serial number prefixes from the great TheSamba.com website.
Understanding VW Engine and Chassis Numbers through to 1979 – Covers Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4 and K70 models. From the Volkswagen Owners Club of Great Britain.
VW Chassis Numbers – Covers Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia and Thing. From Aircooled.net.
Alphanumeric Volkswagen Engine Codes were stamped on VW Engine cases at time of car manufacture to convey information about the size and specs of the engine. Because VW offered multiple engine sizes and made changes to their engines independently of model changes, they used Engine Codes instead of relying on VIN numbers for this purpose. There is some engine information that can be derived from VW VIN Numbers for pre-1968 vehicles.
From the first 1 or 2 digits of a Volkswagen Engine Code you can derive the approximate year and engine size. The remainder of a VW Engine Code is essentially a serial number.
1976 Vw Bus Engine Serial Numbers Lookup
Chart Information Crowdsourced at TheSamba.com
| Type 1 | ||
| Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
| 1- | Pre-Jan., 1956 | 25hp/36hp 1- prefix indicates Type 1 and is not part of the sequential engine number. |
| 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 55-65 | 1200cc, 36hp/40hp |
| D0 | 1966/67 | 1200cc |
| F0 | 1966/67 | 1300cc |
| H0 | 1967 | 1500cc |
| F1 | 1967 | 40hp |
| E0 | 1967 | M240 low compression 37hp |
| L0 | 1967 | M240 low compression 40hp |
| H5 | 1968/69 | 1500cc |
| B6 | 1970 | 1600cc – dual relief, single port |
| AB | 1971/73 | 1300cc – dual port |
| AE | 1971/72 | 1600cc – dual relief, dual port |
| AH | 1973/74 | 1600cc – 8mm head studs with case savers |
| AJ | 1975-1979 | 1600cc – fuel injected |
| Type 2 | ||
| Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
| 20- | Pre-Jan., 1956 | 25hp/36hp 20- prefix indicates Type 2 and is not part of the sequential engine number. |
| 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 55-65 | 1200cc, 36hp/40hp |
| O | 1963/64 | 1500cc – no cam bearings |
| H | 1965 | 1500cc |
| HO | 1966/67 | 1500cc |
| L0 | 1967 | M240 low compression |
| B5 | 1968/69 | 1600cc – single relief |
| B5 | 1970 | 1600cc – dual relief |
| AE | 1971 | 1600cc |
| CB | 1972/73 | 1700cc – dual carb., manual transmission |
| CD | 1973 | 1700cc – dual carb., automatic transmission |
| AW | 1973/74 | 1800cc – dual carb. |
| AW | 1975 | 1800cc – fuel-injected |
| AP | 1974/75 | 1800cc – European only |
| ED | 1975 | 1800cc |
| GD | 1976/77 | 2000cc |
| CJ | 1976-1979 | 2000cc – European only |
| GE | 1978/79 | 2000cc |
| CU | 1980-1983 | 2000cc – Vanagon style |
| CV | 1980-1983 | 2000cc – Vanagon style |
The Samba Vw Serial Number
| Type 3 | ||
| Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
| O | 1961-65 | 1500cc |
| K0 | 1966-1972 | 1500cc – 54hp |
| M0 | 1966-1972 | 1500cc – M240 low compression 52hp |
| P0 | 1966/67 | 1600cc – M240 low compression 50hp |
| T0 | 1966-1973 | 1600cc |
| U0 | 1968-1973 | 1600cc – fuel injected for USA |
| U0 | 1970 | 1600cc – dual-relief case |
| U5 | 1971-1973 | 1600cc – 7.7:1 compression – US/Canada M239 California fuel-injection |
| X | 1972 | 1600cc – 7.3:1 compression – California |
| Type 4 | ||
| Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
| V | 1969 | 1700cc – 68hp |
| Z | 1969/70 | 1700cc – 7.8:1 compression – 68hp, dual carb., automatic transmission |
| W | 1971 | 1700cc – 8.2:1 compression – 80hp |
| EA | 1972-1974 | 1700cc |
| EB | 1973 | 1700cc – California only, fuel injection |
| EC | 1974 | 1800cc |
| AN | 1974 | 1800cc – 8.6:1 compression |
| AT | 1974 | 1800cc – European only, dual carb. |
| Porsche 914 | ||
| Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
| W | 1970/71 | 1700cc – 8.2:1 compression – 80hp |
| EA | 1972-1973 | 1700cc |
| EB | 1973 | 1700cc – 7.3: compression, California only, fuel injection |
| EC | 1974 | 1800cc – California only, 7.6:1 compression |
| AN | 1800cc – 8.6:1 compression | |
| GA | 1973/74 | 2000cc – 7.6:1 comporession |
| GB | 1973-1976 | 2000cc – 8.0:1 compresssion |
| GC | 1975/76 | 2000cc – 7.6:1 compresssion |
| V0 | 1700cc – European-only 1800cc – European-only 2000cc – European-only | |
| Replacement cases | |
| These cases were VW engine cases that were sold from VW but never issued in an actual production vehicle. All are dual-relief cases with 100mm oil passages. Example: Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number. | |
| F1 | 1300/1600 |
| F2 | 1300/1600 |
| DO | 40hp if last digit is “X” |
| D1 | 40hp part |
| AD | 1600 |
| AK | 1967-1974 1500/1600 |
| AM | 1600 |
| AS | Sometimes seen listed as Super Beetle case for 1973-onward |
| Exchange engines |
| These engines are normally marked with a VW recycle symbol and an X at the end. Example: Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number. |