An optimist sees and opportunity in every calamity. A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.

Volkswagen has a rather organized method of identification of parts.  It applies to all platforms of early cars (I don't know about later cars because I've never owned one) and it makes finding parts pretty easy once you know which group they belong to in the assembly.  Most of it is obvious and some of it is not (clutch is in engine section, not transmission).

I spent some time going through the numbering system on a journey of 'curious minds' meeting 'harsh reality'.  There are lots of details missing and some assumptions being made in this list-but overall, it's pretty accurate.  

From a high level, this is where I am with the completion of a car:

1 ENGINE

                41 clutch (req. pressure plate, TO bearing, disc)

                                               

2 FUEL TANK & EXHAUST

                01 fuel tank (clean/paint existing tanks)

                51 mufflers, damper pipes (new muffler?)

                55 heat exchangers (good existing)

                55 warm air ducting  (req. defroster vents, springs, tubing)        

                59 fresh air ventilation (assemble/install)

3 TRANSMISSION (rebuilt, ready to install)

4 FRONT AXLE & STEERING

                01 front axle beam (clean/install existing)

                05 front suspension (clean/paint/install)

                11 front torsion bars (clean/install)

                13 front shock absorbers (source)

                15 steering gear (install)

                15 steering wheel & column (clean up paint/install NOS)

                15 steering drop arm & damper (install damper/bushing)

5 REAR AXLE

                01 swing axle, equalizer spring (assemble/install)

                01 rear wheel, hub, brake drum (install new/NOS parts)

                11 rear suspension (assemble/install)

                13 rear shock absorbers (install)

6 BRAKES

                01 road wheels (strip, powder coat existing)

                09 shoes and backing plates (clean, paint, reinstall bp, new shoes)

                11 master cylinders (new dual circuit, ready to install)

                11 wheel cylinders (no fronts, new rears ready to install)

                11 reservoir & lines (clean reservoir, install lines)

                11 front brake lines (shape and install, buy front flex lines)

                11 rear brake lines (shape and install, buy rear flex lines)

7 LEVERS & PEDALS

                00 frame (install new floor pans, powder coat)

                05 frame head (n/a)

                07 bumpers (re-chrome existing bumpers and over riders, sell off cores)

                11 hand controls (rebuild shifter, install cables, and assemble heat control)

                21 pedal cluster (rebuild existing unit-new shims/bushings)                        

  

8 BODY

05 front section (replace front apron on S body with N body parts-may need additional body parts)

                09 quarter panels (replace inner fenders on S body with N body parts)

                13 rear section (restore engine lid hatch)

                17 roof (no dent in N car, small dent over passenger door in S car)

                21 front fenders (install/prep NOS)

                21 rear fenders (remove/prep/paint)

                23 front hood (pick one/prep/paint)

                27 rear hood & door (pick one/prep/paint)

                31 doors (repair S doors or use N doors/prep/paint)

                37 door components (use S door components/NOS parts/source)

                45 window glass and weather strip (new weather stripping/re-glaze glass)

                47 quarter window parts (source NOS parts)

                53 moldings (source NOS or use repop)

                57 instrument panel fittings (source NOS wrap dash panel)

                57 mirror, visor, grab handles (source visors and grab handles)

                57 safety belt (source)

                63 linings and floor coverings (source carpet/front trunk liner, have rubber mat)

                67 trim panels & headliner (source driver’s side panels, z arm rest, headliner.  Paint hinge cover)

                81 front seat (paint/source covers)

                81 front seat backrest (source covers)        

                85 rear seat (source covers)

9 ELECTRICAL

                03 generator (keep original on 1500S, source alternator for 1835)

                05 distributor (keep original on 1500S, source electronic for 1835)

                05 coil, ignition switch (12v on 1500S)

                11 starter (source SR17X starter)

                19 gauges (NOS/rebuilt ready to install)

                37 fuse box, connectors (ready to install) 

                41 head, fog, & back-up lamps (source headlight buckets, SB12 trim rings)

                43 license plate lamp (NOS ready to install)

                45 tail lights (NOS ready to install)

                47 interior light (NOS ready to install)        

                49 side marker light (NOS ready to install)

                51 horn (NOS bracket/seal, no horn)                

                53 flashing indicator, front (NOS ready to install)

                53 turn signal switch  (NOS ready to install)

                55 windshield wiper parts (NOS ready to install)

                55 windshield washer unit (NOS ready to install)

                55 windshield wiper motor (NOS ready to install)

                57 speedometer & cable (NOS ready to install)

                71 wiring harnesses (NOS and Repop ready to install)

                71 connectors (interesting stash, may require additional sourcing)