Why does my T3 have 2 VIN numbers???

[Holliday714]

We just bought a goregous T3, 1986 California Westfalia hightop.  Yes, 1986 California.  How can this be, when all the websites I've looked at claims that Californias were not manufactured until 1989?  All legal paperwork states that she's a 1986 including corresponding VIN.  The catch is that we found another VIN on her, on the passenger side footrest area.  This VIN corresponds that she was manufactured in 1989, although her documentation claims her to be an '86.  Not only that, everything about her from the exterior and interior screams she's a California Vanagon.  Asking previous owner doesn't help as he only had her for 18 months and was in a long line of owners before us.  Help!!! Why does my beautiful new baby have two identification numbers???

[Bill Witz]

Well it is 26 years or not someone may have made major work done to it and  mixed the Vins.  Maybe they replaced the dash?

Bill Witz 84 Westy  Tiico   

[Holliday714]

Well, I went to VW today to ask. One VIN is invalid and the one that is, has her down as a 1986 yellow T2. She's a white T3 California model. Was told that maybe someone put a T3 California body on a T2 frame...is that even possible? Plus, Germany (where this can was manufactured, the only decent piece of info I received from VW) stopped manufacturing T2's in 1979. So she can't be a T2....the mystery continues.

[Bill Witz]

Yep thought parts had been changed out.  From what I have seen anything  can be done with skill and time . Is the van a left hand drive?

[Holliday714]

no, it's a right hand drive.  i have a hard time believing that this beauty was retrofitted.  she looks absolutely perfectly 'California' to me, but i guess that's the only answer to why she has a VIN from '86.  She must be retrofitted. 

[whc03grady]

Putting a Vanagon body on a bay window (T2) 'frame' would be about the most difficult, expensive, and pointless thing a person could do. It's beyond unlikely that that's the case.
If the "T2" VIN has any letters any it, someone is wrong in telling you it's a T2 VIN.

Holliday714 said:

Well, I went to VW today to ask. One VIN is invalid and the one that is, has her down as a 1986 yellow T2. She's a white T3 California model. Was told that maybe someone put a T3 California body on a T2 frame...is that even possible? Plus, Germany (where this can was manufactured, the only decent piece of info I received from VW) stopped manufacturing T2's in 1979. So she can't be a T2....the mystery continues.