Introduction and Beetle ID

Please introduce yourself here when you join our Forum
Post Reply
swiftydepot
Enlisted
Posts: 2
Registered for: 3 years 6 months

Introduction and Beetle ID

Post by swiftydepot »

Hi,

New here, from Cape Town. I don't currently own a VW but have owned three over the years:
1. A yellow 1976 1600L Beetle as a student.
2. A blue Vanagon (Caravelle) in San Francisco. This was my favourite and drove it all over the Western US and Mexico.
3. A red Kombi, 1.9 or 2l engine that I sold in 2006.

I am looking for help identifying details of an old Beetle:
I have a house in Arnison on the South coast 200km from Cape Town. Its a small holiday/fishing village. On the dunes behind the village is a water tower built into a large dune and next to it is a large depression. About 10 years ago, walking with my daughter, we found an old Beetle abandoned in the bottom of the depression. There wasn't much left but it was definitely still identifiable as a Beetle. An ugly light green colour. On some visit I prised the bit of body with the identifying numbers off and left in the garage. I was there this weekend had a look and it's pretty much all gone now - a few bits of rusted metal and some vinyl, rubber mats and the plastic that goes between the body and the mud-guards is all that remains.

I thought to ask on the Arnison WhatsApp group if anyone knows the story of how it got there. And would like to get any details I can. It has a VWSA, aluminium ID plate with a Serial Number and paint code. Serial: 1374755, Paint Code: 0310. There are also other numbers under German headngs above, but in mild-steel so very rusted and nearly unreadable - I can probably get some info with younger eyes and a magnifying glass :-)

Does anyone know if the serial number can provide any information? Or which of the German numbers would help?
If someone happens to know the story that would also be great.

I have pictures of the aluminium plate and also the rusted German part. Not sure how to add here?
thanks
Andrew
User avatar
Jetta2
Field Marshal
Posts: 14929
Registered for: 17 years 3 months
Car Make: VW, VW, Aprilia
Car Model: Mk3 Golf VR6, Mk4 Caddy, RSV4
Membership No: 1087
Location: Menlo Park, Pretoria

Re: Introduction and Beetle ID

Post by Jetta2 »

Welcome Swifty.

VW Beetle serial number decoding:

https://blog.heritagepartscentre.com/bl ... s-numbers/

And according to some VIN lookups, it is an October 1956 1200cc model.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/in ... dating.php

https://www.jbugs.com/category/vw-vin.html

Paint code info:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/in ... stype1.php
Ryan Demoser

1996 Mk3 Golf VR6
2017 Caddy Maxi Crew Bus 2.0 TDI
2013 Aprilia RSV4 track toy
2021 Aprilia RS660 road bike
swiftydepot
Enlisted
Posts: 2
Registered for: 3 years 6 months

Re: Introduction and Beetle ID

Post by swiftydepot »

Hi Ryan,

Thanks very much for the information. I'll let you know if I find out how it got where it did.

Andrew
Post Reply