I'm looking at buying a 71 Bug at the moment. Only thing is, the chassis number on the plate on the body is different to the stamped number under the back seat. Is that normal for Superbugs? Because the car is registered from the plate number. I'm just a little confused!! If anyone knows anything about this, I'm in desperate need of information!!!!!

Mandy

sounds like its had a body change at some time. they normally rego them from the number stamped in the pan but this may require a police inspection and then may end up being a headache.

The one on the body is the one that counts.

Make sure that mates up with the rrego papers.

A couple of years ago i bought a 75L bug from Canberra and the owner had lost the front compliance plate.
RTA (well NSW anyway) can send you for a VIUU inspection - but when i asked RTA to book me in for one (cause the blue slip guy said i needed one) RTA just looked at me ans said "its a VW - not a bloody Porsche!

Now since yours is registered from the plate it will be void.

No biggie - you will just need to reregister it again.

Where the catch may/will come in is if there is trouble with that pan.

Personally -i would find another one. Unless it is dirt cheap.
That sounds like a lot of trouble

Hi

Is the plate on the body made from aluminium and pop riveted on or a spot welded steel plate? Some Beetles had a steel plate with numbers on them that had no reference to the chassis number at all, the alumium plate is the one that lists all the ADR numbers etc and should be accurate.

Maybe the car has had a cut & shut, where the body is cut and a new front or rear 1/2 is welded on, look for evidence of welding in the heater flap area next to the seat and about 1/2 way up the windscreen pillar, these are the most popular areas for joining.

It may even have had a pan change because of rust or damage.

Steve

[ Edited on 19-12-2006 by 1303Steve ]

Thanks for all your advice. We stuffed up. The chassis and the plate were the same numbers, but the number was different on the rego. After some major stuffing around, we discovered whoever registered it, used the type/model number instead of physically checking the plate/chassis. So, we have fixed all the problems (Vicroads just swapped the number back to the chassis number) and have bought the car.:thumb

Mandy

Great news, another super owner!