A further explenation will be necessary here. Some letters like I and O is deleted
because they
would too easyli be mixed with figures 1 and 0:
A = 1980    B = 1981
C = 1982    D = 1983
E = 1984     F = 1985
G = 1986    H = 1987
J = 1988     K = 1989
L = 1990    M = 1991
N = 1992    P = 1993
R = 1994    S = 1995
T = 1996    U = 1997

This is the normal procedure, but if VW was early/late with some numbers, just to
bypass any
local emmision-regulations, I would not know.
Also keep in mind that models for the US market are being labeled as newer than they
really are, I've seen that the 1999 has been on the market for some time already, but
here, the 99s are just about to be released.

Per Lindgren
J syncro

Dr. Rainer Woitok wrote:

> Volks, Per,
>
> On Thu, 1998-08-06 00:21:42 -0700, Per Lindgren wrote:
>
> > ...
> > To be sure what model-year your VW is, look at the 10th figure in the vin.
> > The letter A signifies 1980, the B is 1981, and the F is 1985. (my 88 has an H)
> >
> > The model-year (I.E. 1990) of Volkswagen ranges from august 1st 1989 to july
> > 31st 1990.
>
> Hmmm ... my Syncro hit the road for the first time in December 1988.  So
> according to what you say she's a Model '89.  But the tenth and eleventh
> characters in  her identification string are  "KG".  Seems they left out
> "I" and "J" or something else is wrong  with your interpretation of that
> encoding scheme.
>
> Sincerely
>  Rainer
>
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