VW Model Types
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.
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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
For 1980 and newer VWs, consult the VIN page.