1. Locate the VIN:
The VIN is usually found in several locations on the vehicle, such as on the:
- Driver's side door pillar (visible when the door is open)
- Under the dashboard on the driver's side
- On the engine compartment near the firewall
2. Decode the VIN:
The VIN of a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle consists of a series of 11 characters:
Position 1-3 4 5-6 7 8 9-11
Meaning Manufacturer Type Year Plant Body Serial Number
To identify if it's a Super Beetle, pay attention to the 7th character.
3. Check the 7th Character:
The 7th character of the VIN indicates the body type of the vehicle:
- "1": Standard Beetle (Beetle, Convertible)
- "2": Super Beetle Sedan
- "3": Super Beetle Convertible
4. Identify Super Beetle:
If the 7th character of your 1974 Beetle's VIN is "2" (Super Beetle Sedan) or "3" (Super Beetle Convertible), then it is indeed a Super Beetle.
Additional Information:
- The Super Beetle was introduced in 1971 as a larger, more powerful version of the standard Beetle.
- The Super Beetle featured a longer body, a larger engine, and updated styling compared to the standard Beetle.
- The Super Beetle was available as both a sedan and convertible body style, offering more options and luxury compared to the standard Beetle.
- Production of the Super Beetle ended in 1979.
This method of identifying a Super Beetle using the 7th character of the VIN is specific to the 1974 model year. For other years, the VIN decoding may vary, so consult a reliable source or reference guide to determine the body type based on the VIN.
