Model identification - frame and engine numbers, special codes

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

Created: 2005 September 29

Updated: 2024 March 16

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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.

VIN on the frame of a V700 purchased in 1967 from Torello Tacchi's dealership in Chicago, USA.
Photo courtesy of Mike Nicolai.

VIN on the engine of a V700 purchased in 1967 from Torello Tacchi's dealership in Chicago, USA.
Photo courtesy of Mike Nicolai.

VIN on the engine of a V700.
Photo courtesy of Gregory Bender.

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.

VIN on the frame of an A-Series Ambassador.
Photo courtesy of unknown.

VIN on the engine of an A-Series Ambassador.
Photo courtesy of Dave Curci.

VIN on the frame of an A-Series Ambassador. The top line reads Motorcycle. The next line reads 12259. The bottom line reads DEC to the left then 1968 to the right.
Photo courtesy of J.A. Brewster.

VIN on the frame of an Ambassador.
Photo courtesy of unknown.

VIN on the engine of an Ambassador.
Photo courtesy of Gregory Bender.

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.

VIN on the frame of an Eldorado.
Photo courtesy of unknown.

VIN on the frame of an 850 GT.
Photo courtesy of unknown.

VIN on the frame of a 1974 850 GT.
Photo courtesy of Chad Smith.

VIN on the frame of an 1973 Eldorado Police. The thing I found interesting was the manufacture date of 1972 September, and then stamped underneath is 1973 MOD. It's titled as a 1973. Just another one of those bins to add to the mystery of Guzzi VIN plates.
Photo courtesy of Richard Mattrass.

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.

VIN on engine block of an Eldorado with VP and star symbol.
Photo courtesy of Paul K.

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:

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.

More information about 850 GT and 850 GT California numbers

From Annemieke Impens Haarmeijer (BCI, Moto Guzzi specialist since 1982; The Netherlands):

We have a customer's bike in and was trying to find out if it was an old American policebike. The answer is no, thank you for that. But you where also wondering if there was any logic in the frame numbers between 850 GT and 850 GT California. I had a look in our system and think there isn't one.

I have some early 850 GT's between 1972 February 18 and 1972 March 21 they have VP, 2 numbers, 2 letters.

We also have late 850 GT California's, last bit of 1974 and 1975. They have VP1*5 numbers*

Between that they all follow the same numbering, that goes for 850 GT and 850 GT California. VP and five numbers. No difference. What I did see over the long time I've been doing this, one of the differences is the cockpit and people don't usually switch them. The floorboards just sometimes. The rest is easy to swap.

For the 850 T3 and 850 T3 California goes the same.

In the Netherlands they are registered as V7/850GT, to make things easier

Another example are the van Gent V7 a special order of another batch (100 I think) of V7 around 1976. 4 gears!