That all makes sense apart from the VIN being removed to fit the engine. However you do it that isn't necessary. As I said, we'll never know and it doesn't really matter anyway.
if you all actually look at what i put up 2 vans - mine and rob'es are identical yet the paperwork isn't also mine had nonsense m codes..... the birth certificate is just made up.
They're generally not. If they don't have a record of something they leave it off. I have recent evidence of this on mine! I don't doubt they occasionally make mistakes though.
Out of interest, what number did you send to the museum? How did you reference your van to them? Your van is plainly a Devon from birth (sorry, it makes zero sense for Devon to buy a van from westfalia, and a later conversion would be hard on a westy). Your certificate shows details of a van sent to Westfalia. So what details did you send them? And have you checked the floor?
The certifate has no evidence of being sent to westfalia in fact it says the destination was the uk It does not have the m code M 073 for the westy roof but a SO73 code in the factory model code I sent the number from the VW vin/m plate I am in no way disputing the fact that it is and always was a Devon the roof and the Devon serial code sticker on the bulk head all point to this
So the van itself is pretty much guaranteed a Devon, and nothing else. The M code reader shows - remark westfalia, there is debate on the Birth Certificate (does anyone have one for a tintop so we can maybe some other reference points? You are picking up the chassis number from where, the plate behind the passenger seat? So the M code plate, and the plate behind the passenger seat are both riveted on, the chassis number where it's stamped is missing. I'm not here to annoy/disappoint/be a speccy ***** - just going on what you are saying and genuinely interested.
SO73 model is a westy though, so either the VIN you sent them, or the certificate, or the bus is wrong.
i don't think this thread is going anywhere and is getting tangled up but to summarise my certificate from vw from giving the chassis number from the plate behind the seats this plate is the original and shows no sign of being tampered with. Now i noticed that the code SO73 is in the VW model code the main reference to SO73 i can find relates to a westfila conversion but these have a number after saying the model type ie So73 /1 Dusseldorf /2 Dallas. US /3 Malaga UK / 4 camper US /5 offenbach /6 camper US /7 Helsinki /11 Oxford UK I also find some info http://www.ratwell.com/pages/MyWesty.html saying Roof opening and reinforcement for Westfalia pop-up roof SO-73 Now the van is clearly a devon it has a later type devon pop top and on the bulkhead is a none transferable Devon sticker with a serial number So is it a ringer The year of reg, the original paint, the date on the speedo all match the m plate info and that the vin/m plate rivets looks undisturbed and in original paint The panel with the duplicate chassis no on is missing but the cut lines matches up with the ones where the rear valance was also removed along with other holes in the battery tray and wheel well to allow the fitting of a different engine. looking at this i think it unlike to be a ringer My conclusion is ether they have made a mistake putting SO73 in the model type or SO73 was a vw model type with a cut and reinforced roof and that Devon bourgth it from VW like that or looking at the m plate decoder it has wesfalia under the colour code is it a special colour combination the roof hole measures 210cm by 106cm i don't know how this compares to a westy front hinge roof .
I still think you should get a V888 form and post up the info that reveals. It may not seem to be going anywhere, but it may have a interesting conclusion either way! We all need help and chat to get there sometimes.
i think i will do the V888 its been on the list to do for sometime I was also thinking we are all getting bogged down with SOs being a westy thing but were used by VW for all sorts of special orders At the end of the day its just my curiosity it make no difference to the van as it no where near standard and i dont want it to be i just want to go camping
The size of the front hinge hole isn't relevant, they stopped doing them in late 73. Is the original paint on your bulkheads etc orange? as kombis were painted body colour...only the champagnes weren't and were left white on the inside. No ones suggesting a cut and shut...just maybe a legit Devon has had a westy's riveted in plates put on at some point in the last 40 years. The one think that is weird is westies were plaid upholstery...your m code has leatherette which is unusual,
Never seen an originally orange Westy. Seens bags of originally orange devons though. The Westy hole goes a foot further back than westy so that's not the answer. I'll bung my Devon crud into the decoder later and see if SO73 comes up.
Mine was be1ge leatherette it's on the Certificate. It was only for the cab, as the Westy conversion bit was a mustardy coloured upholstery.
