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just wondering...

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byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#669435
hey im just looking for some help in identifying a few parts etc for my bug..

for example i have probably ten different speedo's.. what was correct for 59'..

also what was the correct blinker switch/arm assembly. etc

any help would be appreciated.

and also one other question.. what were the differences for headlight lenses, brands etc depending on years.. i have stacks and am wondering what they were off.

thanks guys.

rose doin it for d girls

2,036 posts · joined Dec 2004 ·

#669442
I'll take a pic of my 59 in the daylight tomorrow and post on here for you.

byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#669449
thanks a bunch. i brought my car in a lotta bits and it came with 4 different speedo's and that sorta shit that change ever so slightly from year to year.. i have the markings on the back of them speedos to go off i just wanna be sure.. and am also interested in the lenses.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#669452
36hp 59 woulda been same as this
80mph with the clear plastic needle

once 40hp started it went to 90mph and had the white needle


byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#669461
cheers thats what i thought.. i have a few of these and what i think is the OG one out of the car. ive been checking all my numbers chassis engine etc and it turns out its a aug 58 model.. i know theres been a thread on this, but as this is the 59' model car should it be called that or should it be a 58 going of the year when it was produced and pushed out the factory.

any comments welcome 👍

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#669487
The cars sold in Australia were made in Melbourne, so you can't use Euro or US data as gospel. Aussie-sold cars from mid 1954 were assembled from German-made CKD kits, with increasing local content, up to 1959 when the local factory began stanping body panels. The Australian 1959 was really the first year of full local maufacture.

There was always a delay in changes appearing on Australian VWs. Changes made in Germany in August (for their new model year), often didn't appear here until the following February or March. Chassis numbers appear to have been assigned in batches. You might have an August 1958 chassis number, but for Australia by the time it was built, you are probably well into 1959, which would be the 'model year'. For Australia, there really wasn't any great difference between '58 and '59 anyway. The wheels will also have a date stamp on them - in the centre, under the hubcaps, beside the hubcap clips (assuming the wheels are the originals).

byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#669490
dont think the wheels are OG.. so was it an aus built car.. or imported? cause it does have the german made stamp.. does that mean it was assembled here..

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#669493
Could be either! It's more likely to have been assembled in Australia (using parts made both in Germany and in Australia), as the Melbourne factory was really ramping up at that time. Of course it could be a fully German-made import that was privately brought in at some stage.

Does it have a build plate on the front panel behind the spare tyre? What markings does it have on the glass, on the door glass, rear sides and back window? Australian cars of that time had locally-made Pilkington glass. They are more likely to be original than the windscreen. Also check the dates on all five wheels - you never know, they might be original. At least will give you an idea.

But yes, parts for Euro 1959 Beetles will be the same for Aussie '59s. Its only once you get into the early-mid 1960s that differences become significant.

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#669639
phil, what stamp does the pilkington glass have? i've only ever seen armorfloat (spelling?) glass in big window 6V cars.

the 59 i had, had padded visors, a ribbed headliner, bosch cursive single spot headlight lenses with the vw logo at the top, bosch scripted rings screws at 12 & 9. (7P to 6Q date codes if you are a real geek).

i think that single spot hella's with the vw logo at the top and screws at 5 and 7 (metal buckets with the wire spring) may also be correct.

i'll try and post some pics of the headlights.

byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#669658
cheers guys. need all the info i can get..

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#669793
sorry i haven't take any pics but thought of a few more things. btw i got the date codes wrong they should read 8P (aug 58) to 7Q (july 59)(see here for more geeky date code stuff. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279505 )

you want an oval type blinker arm.
a small splined oval steering wheel
the door trims should be a two tone with oval type aluminum trims.
the outside trim is bright dipped aluminum.
chromed not stainless steel 1/4 window and door divider.
you need a 4 tab hood, the 59 i had (that i think was australian built, german built might be different) had a 4 tab but with a single piece pressing across the top instead of a 3 piece as seen on earlier cars.
no stock fuel gauge
my aug 58 had an oval type glove box button and i think a '60 i striped had the same type as well.
i think the wiper arms should have the oval type bases with different arms to suit longer blades, no window washer.
you want the early multi coloured hood crest, there are variations of these but i don't know which is which.
a late oval humped tank with vertical pressings on the front. horizontal ribbed tanks are 56 only.
oval front guards (with tubes).
my 59 had no pressings between the bolt holes (front or rear ) but this might have been an aust built thing.
the tail light brackets are different in 56 to 58-60 (not that you can see these anyway) one is flat at the top and the other bent but i'll have to dig some out to check which is which.
obviously you need an oval type metal brake fluid tank and oval steering box cover plates.

what i have said is from my observations only not written sources. if anyone picks mistakes please correct them.

jono, would you like more info if i remember any?

edit yellow lensed semaphores.

volumex Officially Full-On Dubber

389 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#669840
Headlights are tricky. I was told a while back that the VW logo on the top was from cars when delivered, and the lenses bought as replacement parts did not have the VW logo.
They can be either Hella or Bosch, and the headlight adjustment screws can be all over the place.
If you just make sure you have a matched pair then the battle is 95% won.
The most desirable ones (IMHO) are the Bosch ones with the Bosch symbol on the top of the chrome ring, and the adjusters at 9 and 12 o'clock - and the lens with the top VW logos and symmetrical pattern and fluting. I think that these may have been correct up to the 1960 year model (but this is a SWAG)

Found this in my manual for my 58 (Built May 1958 but with manual dated August 1957)

byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#669844
thanks guys!

yeah id love anymore info there is.. i have all these parts i just have too much.. therefore its all mixed in together.. and i dont know what i should have on mine. anything else is great.

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#670300
tail light brackets. left early, right late.

off white plugs in the glove box lid

early coat hooks.

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whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#670318
early bosch headlight

flathead screws at 9 and 12 o'clock. flathead mount screw with metal spacer.

"bosch" stamped above top screw

vw logo at top of glass.

single spot with no leadout.

"Bosch" cursive script at bottom of glass. the earlier lenses didn't have all the text on the outside of the glass at the bottom but i think this would have been there by 59 (looking for a cheap correct glass without the writing)

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byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#670321
ah thats sweet yeah i have all those parts.. thanks so much. really appreciate it..

anyone after some of the above headlights.. i have extras.. lenses that is..

ill have a look and ask what else i needa know about.

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#670324
but wait there's more...

black bucket, the adjustment springs and spring clips should be raw metal (i think)(i painted black these ones black when i put the light back together)

7? spring clips to hold the bucket/glass into the chrome ring.

the bulb holder is held on by a bail wire.

little rubber bit at 9 o'clock when looking at the back. on my one 3/56 dated bucket this is a rivet and spacer (i'm after another with the rivet thing, again if i can find one cheap).

if you are pulling a set of these apart the adjuster screws are flattened at the end, cut or grind this bit off or you will break at least one screw (it took me a while to work this one out... thankfully i had some parts headlights) if anyone is keen i took most of the pics needed to write a "how to" article on cleaning these things up.

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whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#670325
can you tell i've been off work with the flu and had a RDO as well = a little bored...

also that i'm going through a headlight perv stage...

i've got some info on '59 hella's if you want something different. 🙂