Hi Guys

This post is to provide you with some useful information and to explain what the "Type" definitions are that VW has used for some many years.

The following information is from Club VW Sydney Clubvw.org

From the very earliest days, Volkswagen has identified its various different models and designs by assigning them a series of Type designations. Originally they were only used within the VW organisation, but over the years they have become widely known and used by VW enthusiasts.

The Type designations really apply to air-cooled Volkswagens only. While the factory did apply Type designations to later water-cooled models, they are little known outside the VW organisation. Since 1980 VW has not referred to VW ‘Types’ at all, and model codes now form part of the 17-digit VIN. Modern VWs tend to be organised by ‘platform’ instead.

For this section, we will only consider Volkswagens made before 1980. For newer VWs, refer to the VIN listing page.


1938-1945

VW’s model Type designation began when Dr Ferdinand Porsche was designing the prototypes that led to the VW Beetle. Porsche’s engineering company assigned Type Numbers to individual design projects he was working on. The Volkswagenwerk continued using the Porsche Type designations through World War 2. These early model Types have no connection with modern VWs, but are listed here for historical interest. Some of the most commonly encountered early Porsche/VW model Types are as follows:

 Type 12 Porsche-designed VW-like prototype for Zundapp (1932
 Type 34 Porsche-designed VW-like prototype for NSU (1934)
 Type 60 VW30 & VW38 prototypes that became the KdF-Wagen (1935)
 Type 62 Military conversion of the Type 60 – the first Kübelwagen (1939)
 Type 64 Sportwagen Berlin-Rome race car (1939)
 Type 82 Kübelwagen
 Type 82E Kommandeurwagen 2WD
 Type 87 Kommandeurwagen 4WD
 Type 88 Flat-bed pickup truck version of KdF-Wagen
 Type 92 Kommandeurwagen 2WD with sunshine roof
 Type 138 Schwimmwagen with KdF-Wagen platform chassis
 Type 166 Schwimmwagen with 2000mm wheelbase
 Type 205 Maus 185-tonne tank

 

 

1945-1949

At the end of the war, one of the first things the British did was to introduce a new system of model numbers. This was to replace the Porsche design numbers and refine those made by the Volkswagenwerk during the war. The British allocated the following Type numbers (but not all of them were made):

 Type 11 Two-door saloon
 Type 13 Saloon with sliding roof
 Type 15 Drophead coupe
 Type 21 Kübelwagen
 Type 25 Kübelwagen fire tender with high-pressure pump
 Type 27 Kübelwagen-based van with canopy
 Type 28 Kübelwagen-based closed delivery van
 Type 51 Saloon on Kübelwagen chassis
 Type 53 Saloon with sliding roof on Kübelwagen chassis              
 Type 55 Drophead coupe on Kübelwagen chassis
 Type 81 Saloon-based delivery van with canopy
 Type 83 Saloon-based closed delivery van
 Type 91 Trailer, open
 Type 93 Trailer, closed
 Type 100 Short-wheelbase saloon-based road tractor

 

 

1949-1979

The British handed the VW factory back to the Germans in September 1949, the year the three former Allied zones were united to form the German Federal Republic. Former Opel director Heinz Nordhoff was appointed General Manager of the Volkswagenwerk.

Under German control, VW released two new Cabriolet models in 1949 alongside refinements and expansion of the sedan line-up. VW took the opportunity to reorganise the British model Type numbering system, and a new system was put in place. This saw the VW range divided into 4 basic types (eventually), with each type further divided into models described with three-digit numbers. This basic system lasted until the end of German air-cooled models and the introduction of the modern VIN system.

The four basic Volkswagen Types are:

Type 1:  Beetle, Hebmüller, Cabriolet, Superbug, Karmann Ghia, Fridolin, Thing, Country Buggy

Type 2:  Panel Van, Microbus, Kombi, Single-Cab Pickup, Double-Cab Pickup, Ambulance

Type 3:  Sedan (Notchback), Squareback (Variant), Fastback, Karmann Ghia

Type 4:  2-door Sedan, 4-door Sedan, 2-door Variant, VW-Porsche 914

Within these four Volkswagen Types, the individual models were identified by a three-digit code – the first digit always being the Type number above. VW’s first model lists for the Types 1 and 2 were drawn up in 1949 and 1950. They were reorganised and renumbered in 1966 for the 1967 model year, so there are two separate lists for each Type. After 1966, the first two digits of the Type number were used on the chassis number. Models were separated depending on whether they were Left or Right-Hand Drive.

Type 1 (1949-1966)
 111 Standard Beetle Sedan (LHD)
 112 Standard Beetle Sedan (RHD)
 113 Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sedan (LHD)
 114 Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sedan (RHD)
 115 Standard Beetle Sunroof Sedan (LHD)
 116 Standard Beetle Sunroof Sedan (RHD)
 117 Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sunroof Sedan (LHD)
 118 Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sunroof Sedan (RHD)
 141 Hebmüller Cabriolet
 141 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (LHD)
 142 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (RHD)
 143 Karmann Ghia Coupe (LHD)
 144 Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)
 147 Fridolin (Klein Lieferwagen) – LHD only
 151 Beetle Cabriolet (LHD)
 152 Beetle Cabriolet (RHD)

 


Type 1 (1966-1979)
 111 Torsion bar, swing-axle Beetle (LHD)
 112 Torsion bar, swing-axle Beetle (RHD)
 113 Torsion bar, CV-joint Beetle (LHD)
 114 Torsion bar, CV-joint Beetle (RHD)
 131 McPherson strut Superbug (LHD)
 132 McPherson strut Superbug (RHD)
 133 McPherson strut Superbug (LHD – USA, Canada)
 141 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (LHD)
 142 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (RHD)
 143 Karmann Ghia Coupe (LHD)
 144 Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)
 147 Fridolin (Klein Lieferwagen) – LHD only
 151 Beetle Cabriolet (LHD)
 152 Beetle Cabriolet (RHD)
 153 Beetle Cabriolet (LHD – USA, Canada)
 181 Kurierwagen, Thing, Safari (LHD)
 182 Kurierwagen, Safari, Trekker (RHD)
 192 Beetle (Australian manufacture)
 197 Country Buggy (Australia Only)

 


Type 2 (1949-1967)
 211 Panel van, right-side load doors (LHD)
 213 Panel van, left-side load doors (LHD)
 214 Panel van, left-side load doors (RHD)
 215 Panel van, load doors both sides (LHD)
 216 Panel van, load doors both sides (RHD)
 221 Microbus, right-side doors, 9-seat (LHD)
 223 Microbus, left-side doors, 9-seat (LHD)
 224 Microbus, left-side doors, 9-seat (RHD)
 225 Microbus Sunroof, right-side doors, 9-seat (LHD)
 226 Microbus Sunroof, left-side doors, 9-seat (RHD)
 231 Kombi, right-side load doors (LHD)
 233 Kombi, left-side load doors (LHD)
 234 Kombi, left-side load doors (RHD)
 235 Kombi Sunroof, right-side doors (LHD)
 237 Kombi Sunroof, left-side doors (LHD)
 238 Kombi Sunroof, left-side doors (RHD)
 241 Microbus (Samba), 8-seat (LHD)
 242 Microbus (Samba, Alpine), 8-seat (RHD)
 251 Microbus Walk-Thru (Samba), 7-seat (LHD)
 261 Single-cab Pickup, right-hand locker (LHD)
 263 Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (LHD)
 264 Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (RHD)
 265 Double-cab Pickup, right rear door (LHD)
 267 Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (LHD)
 268 Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (RHD)
 271 Ambulance, right-side load doors (LHD)
 273 Ambulance, left-side load doors (LHD)
 274 Ambulance, left-side load doors (RHD)
 281 Microbus Walk-Thru, 7-seat (LHD)
 285 Microbus Sunroof Walk-Thru, 7-seat (LHD)

 


Type 2 (1968-1979)
 211 Panel van, right-side sliding door (LHD)
 213 Panel van, left-side sliding door (LHD)
 214 Panel van, left-side sliding door (RHD)
 215 Panel van, sliding door both sides (LHD)
 216 Panel van, sliding door both sides (RHD)
 221 Microbus (7, 8 or 9 seats), right sliding door (LHD)
 223 Microbus (7, 8 or 9 seats), left sliding door (LHD)
 224 Microbus (7, 8 or 9 seats), left sliding door (RHD)
 231 Kombi, right-side sliding door (LHD)
 233 Kombi, right-side sliding door (LHD)
 234 Kombi, left-side sliding door (RHD)
 235 Kombi Sunroof, right-side sliding door (LHD)
 237 Kombi Sunroof, left-side sliding door (LHD)
 238 Kombi Sunroof, left-side sliding door (RHD)
 241 Microbus Sunroof (8 or 9 seats) (LHD)
 242 Microbus Sunroof (8 or 9 seats) (RHD)
 261 Single-cab Pickup, right-hand locker (LHD)
 263 Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (LHD)
 264 Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (RHD)
 265 Double-cab Pickup, right rear door (LHD)
 267 Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (LHD)
 268 Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (RHD)
 271 Ambulance, right-side sliding door (LHD)
 274 Ambulance, left-side sliding door (RHD)
 281 Microbus Walk Thru (7 seats) (LHD)
 285 Microbus Sunroof Walk Thru (7 seats) (LHD)

 


Type 3 (1962-1973)
 311 Fastback (LHD)
 312 Fastback (RHD)
 313 Fastback Sunroof (LHD)
 314 Fastback Sunroof (RHD)
 315 Notchback (LHD)
 316 Notchback (RHD)
 317 Notchback Sunroof (LHD)
 318 Notchback Sunroof (RHD)
 343 Karmann Ghia Coupe (LHD)
 344 Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)
 345 Karmann Ghia Coupe Sunroof (LHD)
 346 Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)
 361 Squareback (Variant) (LHD)
 362 Squareback (Variant) (RHD)
 363 Squareback (Variant) Sunroof (LHD)
 364 Squareback (Variant) Sunroof (RHD)
 365 Squareback (Variant) A Wagon and Panel Van (LHD)
 366 Squareback (Variant) A Wagon and Panel Van (RHD)
 367 Squareback (Variant) A Sunroof (LHD)
 368 Squareback (Variant) A Sunroof (RHD)

 


Type 4 (1968-1975)
 411 2-door L Sedan (LHD)
 412 2-door L Sedan (RHD)
 415 2-door Sedan (LHD)
 416 2-door Sedan (RHD)
 421 4-door L Sedan (LHD)
 422 4-door L Sedan (RHD)
 425 4-door Sedan (LHD)
 426 4-door Sedan (RHD)
 461 Variant L station wagon (LHD)
 462 Variant L station wagon (RHD)                          
 465 Variant station wagon (LHD)
 466 Variant station wagon (RHD)
 471 VW-Porsche 914 (LHD only)

 

Other VW Types

Volkswagen water-cooled models of the early 1970s were also given similar-style Type numbers, and these are listed below. However, unlike the air-cooled models, these are not well known and hardly ever used, even by VW sales staff, mechanics and enthusiasts. VW Type numbers are generally only used when referring to air-cooled models.

While Type designations do show up in modern, post-1980 VIN codes, their importance has greatly diminished except for their use in spare parts codes. They often do not have any historical connection with previous Types. The T3 Transporter has a VIN type descriptor of ‘24’ (pickups) or ‘25’ (vans and buses) for example, and can still be said to be a Type 2. The T4 Transporter on the other hand, has a VIN descriptor of ‘70’ and is thus not a ‘Type 2’ at all. For Australia the New Beetle is a ‘9C’ and has no connection with the ‘Type 1’ (so it really isn’t a Beetle). The first Polo was Type 86, but newer ones are 9N.

So while VW has an internal system for type designations, these are no longer used outside of Volkswagen. We don’t refer to newer Golfs as Type 1G or Type 1H; they are Golf 2 or Golf 3.

For the record, here are some other VW model types used prior to the introduction of the VIN in 1980.

Type 147 - Golf Mk 1-based Caddy pickup
Type 15 - Golf Mk 1 cabriolet
Type 16 - Jetta Mk 1
Type 17 - Golf Mk 1
Type 24 - T3 Transporter pickups
Type 25 - T3 Transporter vans and buses
Type 28 - LT series of light trucks
Type 32 - Passat Mk 1 sedan
Type 33 - Passat Mk 1 station wagon (variant)
Type 53 - Scirocco Mk 1
Type 86 - Polo Mk 1
Types 6/8/9 - VW-MAN Trucks