What is it?

[calgarybug]

Need help to identify my bug. Registered as a 1967. S/N on trans tunnel is 116728096, the S/N on the ID tag located behind the spare tire is 119003767 and the engine S/N is AH215938. Did I buy a Frankenstine??

[helowrench]

from: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/inf ... dating.php
116728096 = produced in MAR1966
119003767 = produced in AUG1968
AH engine code denotes late model (70s) 1600

So,
Yes, you have a frankenbug. you have a 66 body on a late 68/ early 69 chassis with a 70s engine
Unless you are wanting to fully restore a completely "numbers matching" beetle, love it, drive it.

Does the title match the body VIN?

[Marc]

...you have a 66 body on a late 68/ early 69 chassis...

Vise-versa - the 116 number on the tunnel denotes a `66 chassis, while the 119 tag in the trunk identifies the body as `69 model-year.
In the USA, all `69 and newer Beetles had the 4-joint (AKA "IRS") suspension. `66 would be the earlier "swingaxle" layout (last year of short axles/narrow rear track width). One thing worth checking is the way that they handled the rearmost body-to-chassis mounting points (look behind the rear tires), since the late body's bracket is located higher...they should have removed them and welded them on at the correct position to match the early chassis, or at the very least used long bolts with big spacers. Other than those two mounts the body has no attachment to the chassis aft of the small bolts under the back seat cushion, so they're kind of important.
Also, see how they dealt with the steering column - that was revamped for `68 to incorporate a collapsible section under the gas tank, IMO the late setup is better from a safety perspective. `69 had the gas tank filler ahead of the RH door with a latching flap - does your car still have that arrangement?

I make that engine number as a mid/late 1973, which would be a 1600 dualport with the later "doghouse" fan shroud...that's how it left the factory, anyway - the current configuration could be something altogether different. Can you provide some pictures?

I share helowrench's concern about the paperwork - does the "1967" title have a VIN number which matches either your body or chassis? Even if it does match one of them, you could still potentially have legal issues...hopefully ownership of the other "half" can be proven. It's not all that rare for a VW title to be off by a year due to dealer or licensing agent error. Until 1955 there was no "model year" and the cars were typically titled as whatever date was on the calendar when the paperwork was drawn up if the dealer didn't specify...when model years were adopted, many license agents remained confused for the remainder of their careers.

[helowrench]

Thanks for the correction Marc, I got it a bit bass-ackwards.

[neil68]

Can you post some pictures? It's possible that a front clip from a 1969 was welded in as a previous repair, thus the '69 VIN on the spare tire tag. As noted above, the chassis VIN indicated a 1966.

I've owned two 1974 Beetles (both bought new from the dealer by family members), and they both had AH engines codes similar to yours.

This is a classic scenario, '66 chassis, '69 body, '74 engine and '67 registration. Only the '67 registration doesn't make sense, although the first 67's were sold in late 1966.

[calgarybug]

Split the body form the chassis. Chassis quick look finds a small hole in the battery tray. However the body is in worse shape than the chassis. Both heater channels have to be replaced. Big job for a rookie. I have attached a pic of the engine and of the front right side fuel flap. Had a good look at the front clip, looks original. Plan is to repair and enjoy as it is

[calgarybug]

Here's the engine

[Piledriver]

Are the back wheels 4 lug too?

Do you hace cv joints like a modern car? (inner and outer)

`66 chassis would be swing axle, the 66 front is the later style and could have gotten a later bj front and/4 lugs.

[neil68]

It looks like the front fenders were taken from a '66 (or earlier)...but with later large signal lights installed.

That 4-bolt wheel style is from around '75.

[Marc]

The "sports" rims debuted (in ET34 4½" width) in 1972, reborn for `74 in ET41 and available through the end of production IIRC. These look deeper, possibly the `73 ET26 5½" (pretty rare, they were replaced by an ET34 version for `74-up). A very similar-looking rim was used on 914/4 Porsches, subtly different around the edges of the holes...can't recall their specs for certain (5½" ET40 I think). Look between the lugbolts for stamped-in dimensions.

Since this is an extremely early-production `69 body it predates by several months the inception of the VIN tag in the corner of the windshield and the VIN sticker on the B-pillar (US regulations mandated those on all vehicles imported for sale after 12/31/68) so there's only the VIN plate in the trunk, and the physical characteristics, to identify it as a `69. `68 had a finger-notch on the gas flap rather than the cable release. Other`69 features are the cable-operated front heat outlet controls with small remote control levers, and the heated rear window. The basic window sizes are the same from `65-up (~`72 the rear window got taller) so most folks probably wouldn't notice the difference between a `69 with early front fenders & taillamps and a `66 - the external fuel filler and padded dashboard are the major miscues.

Engine has singleport heads (hard to tell `66 1300 ones from the `67-`70 15/1600 version on an assembled engine). Odds are it's essentially a `69-spec 1500 other than the later/better case, typically updated to 1600 in the course of a rebuild. Distributor looks like the ubiquitous 0 231 178 009 centrifugal-advance-only replacement model, not the best choice but "good-enough" for your needs. I'd prefer a stock oil-bath aircleaner, but this one is at least tall enough that it shouldn't be disrupting high-speed fuel metering too badly. It'd be nice if the crankcase vent hose was plumbed into it rather than being plugged off like that.
Biggest issue I see in the engine compartment is the fuel lines. Since the fuel inlet pipe is merely pressed into the carb top, it's considered bad form to add the mass of an inline fuel filter there. Much more convenient than under the tank or between the chassis and fuel pump inlet, but a potential fire hazard. Make sure that there's a grommet to protect the pipe where it passes through the engine sheetmetal on the firewall side; without one the tin will eventually slice through the tube.
Is that a mechanical oil-pressure gauge line with a hoseclamped-together junction? That's pretty scarey. Mechanical gauges tend to develop air bubbles in the line which makes them respond sluggishly, IMO you're better off with the stock warning light.

[neil68]

One thing to keep in mind, is that the OP appears to be from Canada...I'm assuming Calgary. Canadian Beetles had many differences, as well as similarities, compared with USA models. For example, Canada had both swingaxle (with Z-bar) and IRS Beetles well up into the mid-70's, you could still get 1200 & 1300 cc models as an option in '68/69, radios were Blaupunkt, auxiliary heaters were Wabasso & Eberspaecher, etc. The body on this Beetle surely looks '69, but I'd like to see more pictures of the transaxle, interior, etc, to see if it's an upgraded '66 chassis or what?

[GonzoTex]

VW are the most bastardized cars of all time because all the engines can be made to fit all the bodies and all the bodies can be made to fit all the pans etc ....Actually, a numbers matching Bug is a pretty rare automobile. Of the 22 I've owned, I think only one had not had the motor replaced, some had older bodies on newer pans and all had been messed with to some extant.
I think I'm going to start looking to add numbers matching VW to my collection (if I can find any !)