Moto Guzzi Engine Serial Numbers

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Created:

Gregory Bender added: I am.NOT. an expert in Moto Guzzi frame and engine numbers. These frame numbers are.NOT. 100% correct, particularly for models delivered outside of Italy and especially for models delivered outside of Europe. The two-letter engine prefix.should. be accurate and correct, but the numbers may not be correct for your Moto. The VIN or frame number is 17 characters long and is DNA code to the motorcycle motorbike quad bike or ATV. The VIN when decoded details information on the manufacture, model, engine size, year of build, where it was manufactured and finally a six digit unique serial number.

Updated:

I extracted some of this information from Paul Linn, Ralf Brinkmann, and Greg Field on the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io).

As is typical of Moto Guzzi, the following information is applicable to most models. However, it is likely there are exceptions.

V700

• Frame numbers: V700 frames do not have a VIN plate riveted to the steering head. Instead, the frame number is stamped directly to the steering head. Frame numbers that are 4 digits in length and those that do not start with an A are almost certainly V700 frames.
• Engine numbers: Engine numbers are stamped on the left side of the engine case.
• Build date: Since most V700 frame do not have a VIN plate, build dates are unknown. However, frame numbers less than 1400 are almost certainly 1967 models sold in the USA.
• Matching numbers: Frame numbers and engine numbers almost certainly did not match from the factory. On the only V700 that I've seen with matching numbers, it was clear that someone (not the factory) had stamped the crankcase to match the frame. Engines on most 1967 models have a replacement crankcase, so this introduces yet another variable.

V7 Special and Ambassador

• Frame numbers: All frames have a VIN plate riveted to the steering head. This plate will show the frame number. The frame number is not stamped in the steering head.
• Engine numbers: Engine numbers are stamped on the left side of the engine case. Engine numbers are also stamped on the VIN plate riveted to the steering head.
• Build date: Build dates (month and year) are stamped on the VIN plate riveted to the steering head.
• Matching numbers: V7 Special models (not imported to the USA) do not have matching frame and engine numbers. Ambassador models (imported to the USA) have matching frame numbers and engine numbers.

850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police

• Frame numbers: Most frames have a VIN plate riveted to the steering head. This plate will show the frame number. The frame number is not stamped in the steering head. I have been made aware that some 850 GT and perhaps 850 GT California models have the frame number stamped into the steering head.
• Engine numbers: Engine numbers are stamped on the left side of the engine case. Engine numbers are also stamped on the VIN plate riveted to the steering head.
• Build date: Build dates (month and year) are stamped on the VIN plate riveted to the steering head.
• Matching numbers: 850 GT models (not imported to the USA) do not have matching frame and engine numbers. Eldorado and 850 California Police motorcycles (imported to the USA) have matching frame numbers and engine numbers.

VP and star symbols stamped into engine cases

From Paul Linn:

The stars are there to prevent unscrupulous fellows from altering the numbers. The VP some believe stand for Version Polizia and I believe that all floorboard models came stamped with this designation.

Frame and engine numbers in Europe

From Ralf Brinkmann:

The leading two letters of the serial number on frame and engine block reflect the Guzzi model:

• VS 00AA to VS 99SS: V7 700
• VM 00AA to VM 25EP: V7 Special
• VP 00AA to VP 58WH: 850 GT
• VP 11111 to VP 16230: 850 GT California

From Christian Tobler:

Moto Guzzi Engine Serial Numbers Search

In my opinion things must be more complicated. I have access to 3 V7 these days. But only in one case the frame numbers fit to the information you published relying on Ralf Brinkmann. For your information: The authorities in Switzerland are not very precise concerning the description on the V7 version in official papers. The first is an original GT 850. The second is an original 750 Special. The third is a 850 California and the only one I don't know if it is an original California. But here the frame number fits to your scheme.

Gregory Bender's thoughts:

I believe things to be more complicated, too. Each time I think I've found some sort of standardized identification system, Moto Guzzi proves me wrong. There are general guidelines that fit many individual examples, but then plenty of variation amongst and within countries.

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Moto Guzzi Engine Serial Numbers List