INFO GUIDE: 1951 - 1955 Volkswagen Deluxe Microbus (Samba Bus)

The Volkswagen Deluxe Samba Bus had the following original interior features:

• Black vinyl bench seats (as opposed to the standard Microbus which came with beige vinyl).
• Black rubber floor lining was standard.
• Beige/cream cloth covered the internal aperture pillars and panels (from the base of the windows and higher).
• Dark beige vinyl covered the door cards and interior wall lining (up to the base of the windows).
• The Samba was produced in both left and right hand drive, with the right hand drive vehicles being particularly rare.
• A 'Wolfsburg' symbol is featured in the centre of the steering wheel (see images).
• The dashboard features a speedo (drivers side), radio (centre) and a clock (passenger side).
• Ashtray located in the centre of the dash (above the radio).
• Luggage rack in the rear of the vehicle.
• Vinyl (Chestnut Brown) pullback sunroof.
• Passenger side footrest (absent on later models).

Deluxe specific interior options included:

1. Vinyl headliner
2. Walk through split front seats
3. Telefunken radio
4. Deluxe without sunroof and roof windows
5. Seating for 9 people
6. Double cargo doors
7. Without seats in passenger area

Several sources have confirmed that the Deluxe Microbus came in the following two colours/combinations:

• Two tone: Chesnut Brown (Code: L73) over Sealing Wax Red (Code:L53)
• Single tone: Stone Grey (Code: L221)

The vast majority of Deluxe Microbuses were produced in "Chesnut Brown" over "Sealing Wax Red". We have managed to only gather a few images of an all Stone Grey Deluxe Microbus. 

Several forums have indicated that many of the Deluxe Microbuses which appeared in early brochures, advertisements, and at motor shows, were generally Chesnut Brown" over "Sealing Wax Red, but also had a white contrasting roof. Although production started in Aug 1951, very few vehicles were built that year and it is noted that none of these were built for sale to the general public, but were rather supplied as demonstration vehicles. All of these vehicles are believed to have had a white roof. Unfortunately, we have not been able to confirm the paint code or find examples of these very early vehicles, but please contact us if you have any additional information.

Confirming the original colour:

Unfortunately, the chassis plate on the vehicle does not list the original paint code. The code can however be found in the 'VW Birth Certificate', as this model pre-dates the M code chassis plates. The only other way to confirm the original paint is to look at areas under carpets, in the engine bay or other covered areas, which may have remnants of the original paint.

Body number:

• Up to May 1952, the body number was stamped into the engine bay bulkhead. After May 1952, the body number stamping was moved to the front seat bulkhead (behind the front seat).
• The body numbers are sequential, however, provide limited other information about pre-October 1958 buses. As a result, a 'VW Birth Certificate' is required to find out further information, as outlined in section 6 of this guide.
• In early buses (up to some point in 1952), forum discussion suggests that the body number matched the chassis number. The body number in 1952 onward vehicles has no relevance/relationship to chassis/VIN number.
• Prior to October 1958 there was no 'M-Code' data plate, which replaced the body number on later Microbuses.

VIN / Chassis plate:

• Prior to 1953, the VIN plate featured 5 rows of text (see images).
• From 1953 onward, the VIN plate was updated and included only three rows of text (see images).
• The VIN/chassis plate is located on the back right side of the engine bay (on the firewall/bulkhead). This is accompanied by a "made in Germany” plate abve the chassis plate as shown in the images.

The chassis plate can be decoded in the following way:

• Row 1 Left side - 'Typ': Numbers 2/24 or 2/25 are used for the Deluxe Microbus. The "2" refers to "Type 2", and the "24/25" confirms the model is a Deluxe, with either the long middle seat (24), or, a short middle seat (25). 
• Row 1 right side - 'Fahrgestell Nr' (chassis number): This is the unique chassis number of the vehicle. This will consist of a number beginning with the prefix '-20-' followed by a unique 6 digit number.
• The locations and meaning of other information provided on the chassis plate is shown in the attached images.

The tables attached in the images compile the months in which the the Deluxe Microbus was produced with the sequential VIN numbers applicable to those production dates.

Engine Number:

The engine number is stamped on the front generator mount.

The engine numbers produced during the 1951-1955 period for Deluxe Microbus are listed in the tables in the images. Examples of the location and the typeface of an original engine number are also provided in the images.

Engine Case Date Stamps:

To assist with identification of an original engine, date stamps which are cast into the block can be inspected.  These cast marks can be found in two locations:

1. On the left hand side of the generator stand (right hand side case half).

2. Next to the oil pump (left hand side case half).

These locations are further described in the images. This stamping contains three (3) groups of digits that refer to the production date of the engine.

Digit 1: Day of the month

Digit 2: Month

Digit 3: This consists of two digits. The first is the shift number of the day, and the second digit refers to the year the engine was produced.

For example: "4 - 7 - 45" would confirm the 4th day of the 7th month (July), and the 4th shift of the 5th year (i.e. 1955).