The M-plate, located behind the driver seat, completely decodes this vehicle as a highly desirable 1970 Volkswagen Campmobile (Westfalia) originally destined for the U.S. East Coast.

Because the destination code is listed as VA, it confirms that back in 1970, your bus traveled from the Hanover, Germany manufacturing plant to the Emden, Germany transatlantic shipping port, from where it crossed the Atlantic on a dedicated car carrier, rolled off the ship at Port Newark, New Jersey, and passed through the New Jersey distribution hub by Worldwide Volkswagen, before being delivered to its very first owner. Your bus is a true piece of 1970 Americana!

The line-by-line breakdown of Kaspar’s factory birth certificate (M Plate) reveals the following specifications:

First line (top): 02 237 212 –

Internal tracking string used by factory line workers to match Kaspar’s vehicle's frame to its incoming mechanical parts during assembly.

Second line: 517 518 697 –

The Factory M-Codes / Options)517: Factory Prepared for Campmobile Interior. This is the definitive code proving Kaspar left Hanover as an official Westfalia shell. It told factory workers to prep the floorboards and panels for camping furniture.

518: Factory-cut opening in the roof to accommodate the fiberglass Westfalia Pop-up Campmobile Roof.

697: North American Export Package equipment, which included a speedometer in miles-per-hour (MPH), sealed-beam headlights, and emergency flashers.

Third line: 523907 D26 H67 026 --

Paint, Interior & Special Prep. 523907: Paint & Trim Code. This unique six-digit code signifies a factory Pearl White (L87) exterior color scheme specifically designated for Westfalia Campmobiles.

D26 & H67: Interior trim codes identifying the original upholstery material, cabin textures, and coordinating dark/light Westfalia camper fabrics.

026: Activated carbon canister for specialized California/U.S. emissions control equipment.

Fourth line (bottom): 26 3 7540 VA 2310 is the Foundation Data --

26 3: Production Date. Kaspar was scheduled to be built on Wednesday, March 25, 1970 at the Hanover, Germany factory.

7540: This is the factory sequence/serial number for that specific production shift.

VA: Destination Code. This stands for U.S. East Coast (Port Newark, NJ), allocated to the Worldwide Volkswagen regional distributor network.

2310: Vehicle Type. This identifies it as a Left-Hand Drive (LHD) Type 2 Kombi outfitted with a right-side sliding cargo door.

Additional Information:

Icebox by the door: Having the icebox cabinet right next to the sliding door confirms that your 1970 bus features the iconic SO-69 "Oslo" interior layout! This specific configuration is legendary among vintage VW enthusiasts because of how practical it is for campsite living.

The SO-69 "Oslo" Layout Setup

The Doorway Kitchen: Because the icebox and sink integrated unit sits right in the side door entrance, you can easily reach inside for a cold drink or wash your hands from the outside without stepping all the way into the bus.

The Cooling System: It is a true passive icebox, not an electric refrigerator. To use it, you open the door, place a solid block of ice in the top tray, and let gravity pull the cold air down over your groceries.

The Sink Setup: The sink basin sits right next to the icebox. It uses a manual hand-pump faucet connected to a plastic water jerrycan hidden inside the cabinet.

How It Compares to the SO-70

Midway through 1970 and into 1971, Volkswagen began transitioning vehicles to the SO-70 "Frankfurt" layout. In that newer setup, VW flipped the blueprint. They moved the sink and a larger cabinet completely behind the front driver's seat to open the side doorway passage.

Having the SO-69 setup means your vehicle retains that classic, early-bay layout that feels like a true 1960s throwback!

That it still has the original mirror on the inside of wardrobe cabinet door, and the original plastic water jug inside the sink cabinet, is an incredible find! Having both the original wardrobe mirror and the plastic water jug is extremely rare for a 1970 Westfalia. Over the last 50+ years, most of those fragile mirrors cracked, and the plastic jugs were usually thrown away or lost by past owners.

Why These Parts Are Special

The Wardrobe Mirror: This mirror is highly prized by collectors. It is mounted inside the tall clothing closet on the left side of the bus. Finding one that survived without shattering or losing its reflective silver backing is a huge plus for your bus's authenticity.

The "Juwel" Water Jug: The original water container is a thick, white plastic jerrycan with a specific neck shape designed to fit the Westfalia manual hand-pump hose. Clean original jugs are very hard to find today because they often grew mold or cracked from freezing winter weather.