Getting Started.
New to air-cooled Volkswagens? You're in the right place. Here's everything you need to start your journey.
Learn the Models
Start with the vehicle families covered by this library. Each has its own production history and regional variations.
The Beetle (Type 1) is the most iconic, but the Bus (Type 2), Karmann Ghia (Type 14), Squareback/Fastback (Type 3), and Thing (Type 181) each offer something unique.
Production years matter. A '67 Beetle is very different from a '73. Early cars are simpler; later cars have more features and safety updates.
Explore the References
Part numbers, M-codes and paint codes provide starting points for research. Their applicability needs checking.
Browse extracted part descriptions, factory option-code references and paint-code swatches. Chassis decoding and numbers matching are unavailable while their rules are reviewed.
These references do not authenticate a vehicle or confirm that a part fits. Check the applicable source and vehicle details before relying on a match.
Find the people, and follow a project
One documented shop relationship exists. A wider directory is a concept.
The 1959 Single Cab record shows a working plan, its outstanding decisions and the shop doing the work. A directory of restorers, vendors and museums is an idea we have written down, not a list we have built — VWX vets nobody and verifies no business.
Ready to dive deeper?
Explore model reference pages and the documented Single Cab project.