Vehicle Information
VW Golf
First introduced in May 1974, the Guigaro designed Mk1 Golf (codenamed Typ 17) was set to be Volkswagen’s replacement for the legendary Beetle. The earliest Golfs are distinguishable by their distinctive “Swallow-Tail” rear panels, which dip down beneath the license plate, and their smooth bonnets. These early models are now increasingly sought after, and will doubtless become the “oval window Beetle” of the Golf scene.
In 1976 VW released the iconic GTi, which had originally began life as an “after-hours” special made by the VW engineers.
Initially VW were sceptical about producing the GTi, but 30 years down the line, the Golf GTi still remains the definitive hot hatchback.
A Diesel model was also introduced in 1976. In 1980 there was a minor facelift with the introduction of larger rear lights, plastic “wraparound” bumpers and a more modern style dashboard to replace the twin round pointed dials of the earlier cars.
Over time many other models came to be based on the original Golf platform. The Jetta was introduced in 1979, with the Golf Cabriolet following in 1980. There was never a Mk2 Cabrio, so the Mk1 remained in production until 1993 with the final incarnations badged as the “Rivage” and the “Sportline”. The pick-up version (Caddy) was introduced in 1983, predominantly made in the Sarajevo TAS Factory. The Mk1 Golf was sold in the North-American market as the “Rabbit”, in Mexico as the “Caribe”, and is still produced in South Africa to this day under the name of “Citi-Golf”.
August 1983 - VW launched the MkII Golf (Typ 19E) along with it’s booted sibling the Jetta. It was slightly larger and more refined than the Mk1, and this time was designed in-house, though it was clearly influenced by the Italian penned Mk1. The 139bhp 16v engine (KR code) joined the 112bhp 8v GTi in August of 1986. In August of 1987 the MkII underwent it’s first major facelift, with the quarter lights removed from the front door glass and the mirrors moved further forward along the doors. The grille was also changed, from the 7-slat to the 5-slat, and the fuel injection system was updated, with the mechanical K-Jet set-up replaced with the fully-electronic Digifant system.
August 1989 - saw the change from Typ 19 to Typ 1G, the biggest change to the car externally being the “Big-Bumpers”, along with slimmer rub-strips, and re-modelled arch-trims which led into the full-length sill covers. Beneath the skin, the car had a new electrical system, known as Central Electric II (easily identified by the hazard switch moving from the dash to the steering column shroud). This era also saw the development of some new models: The Rallye Golf was, as the name suggests, a Rally special, produced by VW motorsport in Belgium using the G60 Supercharged motor, a US spec bodyshell, and a beefed-up “Synchro” 4wd system (first launched in the 1986 Golf Synchro).
The G60 was, essentially, a GTi with a supercharged G60 motor. There was also an Edition One special, available in 8v, 16v and G60 forms, as well as ultra-rare G60 Synchro and G60 Limited models. The G60 Limited was a VW Motorsport-built special, with 71 being made, 69 of which were 5 doors - they featured a 210bhp 16v G60 motor, BBS RM split-rim wheels, Synchro 4wd, USDM bumpers, single lamp blue trimmed grilles, tinted Hella tail-lamps and exclusive VW Motorsport badging.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their exceptional spec, they were originally built for VAG Executives. All G60’s, Rallye’s and Edition One’s are LHD, with the Rallye the only one officially imported into the UK.
Though similar to the European model, The UK Rallye was sold as the Rallye SE - a ‘Special Edition’ with every option box ticked in an attempt to make the £20,000 price tag (back in 1990) more justifiable – a much needed incentive given that the car, in its stock form, was slower than a 16v GTi.
The MkII was always sold in the US as a Golf (not like the Mk1, which was badged as the Rabbit) as part of VW’s attempt to standardise branding globally. Production of the MkII finally ceased in 1992, though there are still some late registered GTi’s around in the UK.
Understanding VW Chassis Numbers
Whilst, at first glance, VW chassis numbers may not look like they make much sense, however once you understand the relevance of certain characters, they can tell you when and where your car was produced in.
VW model years always begin on the 1st of August, so a car produced on the 31st July 1989 would be a 1989 model year car, & a car produced on the 1st August 1989 would be a 1990 model year car.
This is particularly important when ordering parts, so it is always worth checking chassis numbers if your car is close to a particular year change.
Up to 1979, the first three digits would tell you the car’s production year: “175” is a 1975 production year (Aug 74 - July 75); “176” is a 1976, and so on.
From 1980, the third letter (after the WVWZZZ or similar) designates the production year: “A” being 1980 (Aug 79 – Jul 80); “B” being 1981, and so on.
Where there is a “..-” in the chart below this is replaced with either 17 (Mk1 Golf) 16 (Jetta) or 19 (Mk2 Golf) as the chassis numbers crossed over between Jettas & both models of Golf
With 1988 onwards cars the 4th letter signifies the factory in which the car was produced: W = Wolfsburg B = Brussels P = Mosel K = Osnabruck (Karmann) V = Westmoreland (VW of America)
Model Year
Chassis No. From
| Chassis No. To
| | |
| 1974 |
175 3000 001 |
175 3025 867 |
| 1975 |
175 3025 868 |
175 3500 000 |
| 1976 |
176 3000 001 |
176 3500 000 |
| 1977 |
177 3000 001 |
177 3800 000 |
| 1978 |
178 3000 001 |
178 3651 053 |
| 1979 |
179 3000 001 |
179 3750 000 |
| 1980 |
..-A 0000 001 |
..-A 0750 000 |
| 1981 |
..-B 000 001 |
..-B 750 000 |
| 1982 |
..-C 000 001 |
..-C 999 999
|
| 1983 |
..-D 000 001 |
..-D 641 909 |
| 1984 (MK1) |
E 010 001 |
E 170 305 |
| 1984 (MK2) |
E 010 001 |
E 990 000 |
| 1985 |
F 000 001 |
F 990 000 |
| 1986 |
G 000 001 |
G 990 000 |
| 1987 |
..-H 000 001 |
..-HW990 000 |
| 1988 |
..-JW000 001 |
..-JW990 000 |
| 1989 |
1G KW000 000 |
1G KW990 000 |
| 1990 |
1G LW000 001 |
1G LW990 000 |
| 1991 |
1G MW000 001 |
1G MW 990 000 |
| 1992 |
1G NW000 001 |
1G NW300 000 |
Non Wolfsburg Manufactured Cars
|
Brussels |
Mosel |
| Year |
Chassis No. From |
Chassis No. To |
Chassis No. From |
Chassis No. To |
| 1987 |
..-HB881 137 |
..-HB990 000 |
|
|
| 1988 |
..-JB000 001 |
..-JB200 000 |
|
|
| 1989 |
1G KB000 001 |
1G KB200 000 |
|
|
| 1990 |
1G KB000 001 |
1G KB200 000 |
|
|
| 1991 |
1G MB000 001 |
1G MW150 000 |
1G MP312 206 |
1G MP800 000 |
| 1992 |
1G NB000 001 |
1G NB030 000 |
1G NP000 001 |
1G NP300 000 |
VW Engine Numbers
MK1 Golf
| Code |
Size (CC) |
KW |
| CK |
1500 |
37 Diesel |
| CR |
1600 |
40 Diesel |
| CY |
1600 |
51 TD |
| DX |
1800 |
81 |
| EG |
1600 |
81 |
| EW |
1500 |
55 |
| FA |
1100 |
37 |
| FD |
1500 |
63 |
| FH |
1500 |
51 |
| FK |
1500 |
51 |
| FP |
1600 |
55 |
| FR |
1600 |
55 |
| FV |
1600 |
48 |
| GF |
1300 |
44 |
| GG |
1100 |
37 |
| GH |
1500 |
48 |
| JB |
1500 |
51 |
| JK |
1600 |
40 Diesel |
MK2 Golf
| Code |
Size (CC) |
KW |
| 1V |
1600 |
Diesel |
| 2G |
1300 |
40 |
| ABN |
1600 |
55 |
| ABX |
1600 |
53 |
| EV |
1800 |
82 |
| EZ |
1500 |
55 |
| GN |
1000 |
33 |
| GU |
1800 |
66 |
| GX |
1800 |
66 |
| HK |
1300 |
40 |
| HT |
1800 |
77 |
| HZ |
1050 |
37 |
| JP |
1600 |
Diesel |
| JR |
1600 |
51 TD |
| KR |
1800 |
102 |
| MH |
1300 |
40 |
| NZ |
1300 |
40 Digi-jetronic |
| PB |
1800 |
82 Digifant |
| PF |
1800 |
79 Digifant |
| PG |
1800 |
118 G60 |
| PL |
1800 |
95 |
| PN |
1600 |
51 |
| RA |
1600 |
59 TD |
| RD |
1800 |
79 |
| RF |
1600 |
53 |
| RH |
1800 |
66 Monojetronic |
| SB |
1600 |
59 TD |
For your reference, this information can be downloaded in a PDF format
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