1968 VW . . . Vin. 133238818
What's wrong with this picture? Let's look a little closer at the VIN . . . in (I think) 1965, VW started using a VIN number system that tell you a little bit about the vehicle.
1 - Type 1. OK so far.
13 Type 1, Super Beetle (unless I'm sadly mistaken). Humm. . . didn't know they made Super's in 1968!
133 Type 1, Super Beetle built in a year ending with 3. 1968 doesn't seem to end in 3.
1332 That would appear to be a Type 1, Super Beetle Built in 1973.
But then things aren't what they always appear to be. If it was built in 1973 it would have a 10 digit VIN. This is how the system works (as I understand it):
The first three numbers tell the type, body style, and last digit of the year. The next 6 numbers are the sequincal (no idea how to spell that one) production number. In other words the first VW that year would be 000 001, the second would be 000 002, etc. If production went over 1,000,000 then a tenth digit, a 1, was added to the VIN. The system worked fine until the 1970s rolled around . . . to prevent reusing VIN #s, they devised a simple plan. Make all the VINs 10 digits, with the 4th number a 2 . . . when production reaches 1,000,000 for any model year, change the 2 to 3.
So, if it has a 9 digit VIN, it's a 196X, with X being the 3rd digit.
If it's a 10 digit VIN and the 4th digit is a 1, it's a 196X with X being the 3rd digit of the VIN.
If it's a 10 digit VIN and the forth digit is a 2 or 3, it's a 197X with X being the 3rd digit.
I've thought about a lot of things that could have been mis-read, or swapped out to come up with a 1968 Beetle with VIN 133238818 . . . short of something illegal, someone took a 1973 Super Beetle chassis, cut off the frame head, welded on a standard Beetle frame head, bolted on a ball joint front beam, and set a 1968 Beetle body on it. Even at that it should be titled as a 1973 shouldn't it?
To make a long story short . . . something doesn't sound right with that VIN. Be careful and do a little investigating before you buy it.
