George Averill wrote:

> How can I verify the year of my vanagon?  I assume that it's somewhere in the
> serial number on the dash.  Thanks in advance.
>
> George in Columbus

   From the Bentley Volkswagen Vanagon  "Official Factory Repair Manual":

    1980: 24_A_000001 - 24_A_999999
    1981: 24_B_000001 - 24_B_999999
    1982: 24_C_000001 - 24_C_999999
    1983: 24_D_000001 - 24_D_999999
    1984: 24_E_000001 - 24_E_999999
    1985: 24_F_000001 - 24_F_999999
    1986: 24_G_000001 - 24_G_999999
    1987: 24_H_000001 - 24_H_999999
    1988: 24_J_000001 - 24_J_999999
    1989: 24_K_000001 - 24_J_999999
    1990: 24_L_000001 - 24_L_999999
          25_L_000001 - 25_L_999999
    1991: 24_M_000001 - 24_M_999999
          25_M_000001 - 25_M_999999

    Dunno what happened to "I" other than German thoroughness
    didn't let them create any ambiguity through confusion with
    the numeral "1" (one).