Australian-made VWs - Reference Page

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 21 Jan 2012, 9:16 am

#882480

The latest reference page added to the new Club Veedub website is for Australian Volkswagens.

This page lists the annual changes made to our Australian-built cars, and how they are different from German built and US-spec cars. Hopefully this will clarify things for enthusiasts (old and new) confused by reading US/UK websites and books that don't recognise Australia.

Thanks to Dave for the pics, and to Joel for his help with the details. Of course if you spot anything that should be corrected, please let us know.

http://www.clubvw.org.au/austvw001

smithy68 Wolfsburg Wizard

419 posts · joined Oct 2010 · 21 Jan 2012, 12:14 pm

#882495

Thanks for sharing I now relise my bug is a 66 not 67 bug, but first reg'd in 67

volumex Officially Full-On Dubber

389 posts · joined Jul 2005 · 21 Jan 2012, 2:14 pm

#882508

The 56 model must have appeared prior to March 56, as my 56 model was first registered in February 56.
My Wolfsburg birth certificate has a build date of Oct 55, and it is definitely a 56 year model.

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 21 Jan 2012, 2:24 pm

#882510

thanks for putting this up phil. it is great to have some australian references out there.

would the serial batch thing explain how my og standard (according to the original owner) has a feb? 63 chassis number with a nov? 62 engine number and a may 63 stamped speedo? i specifically asked him about the engine and speedo and he says neither were changed. he did all his own maintanance.

i sent you a few notes on my observations.
i missed a few:
i don't think the glass was australian in 56 as i have only seen sekurit or duroglas.
circa 63 sunroof models had a SR prefix body number and standards had a S prefix.

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 21 Jan 2012, 3:21 pm

#882525

Yes the shipping out of parts from Germany, and mixing with some Australian parts, causes havoc.

That Wolfsburg birth certificiate for your '56 model means that Wolfsburg allocated the number and stamped the chassis in October 1955. It would then have been allocated to a CKD kit, packed into a crate and shipped out to Australia. It probably arrived before Xmas, and probably assembled and finished in Melbourne in January or early February, in time to be sold in February. For Australian cars, the Wolfsburg certificate is NOT when it was assembled and finished, only when the kit was stamped in Germany.

Also there was no clear 'cutover day' when the cars suddenly became THIS year's models. Kit parts were stacked, stored, mixed and matched in Melbourne, with newer parts added as they became available. You'll always find a mix of different age bits on Aussie cars.

Later when the Melbourne factory stamped their own chassis, all parts weren't stamped all the time. The factory had all the dies to make the 1,000-odd steel parts, but not 1,000 presses. Large parts were made in batches, then the dies changed and batch of different parts run off. Thus you find a Feb '63 chassis (the numbers allocated by Germany) mixed with a new VDO speedo (VDO had a factory in Melbourne) and an older stock engine. Perfectly normal, as the factory had to have a large warehouse full of parts ready to assemble. The 'just in time' system they use today wasn't around in the 1960s.

Watch a VW film like 'Shape of Quality' and you'll see the factory conveyors being used to store stampings.

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 21 Jan 2012, 4:07 pm

#882532

Phil, When did Germany start the August model year changeover?

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 21 Jan 2012, 4:50 pm

#882535

German 1958 year model started 1 August 1957. But not for CKD kits (made of older parts) and not for Australian assembled or manufactured cars.

silver Dangerous when poked

2,169 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 21 Jan 2012, 8:00 pm

#882552

Should this topic be called Australian Made VW 'Beetles' reference page

Keeping it real !

smithy68 Wolfsburg Wizard

419 posts · joined Oct 2010 · 22 Jan 2012, 3:03 pm

#882660

Just wanted to know if anyone new if the 66 vw bug had clear front indicator lens or the amber ones?

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 22 Jan 2012, 3:08 pm

#882663

clear till the 12V cars. ('68)

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 22 Jan 2012, 3:36 pm

#882667

smithy68 wrote:Just wanted to know if anyone new if the 66 vw bug had clear front indicator lens or the amber ones?

Clear, amber didn't start till late bugs did in 68.

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 22 Jan 2012, 7:35 pm

#882696

my 65 has the W I D E clear lens which are fitted in slightly different location to the early narrows

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

vwtriker Casual Dubber

22 posts · joined Jan 2011 · 22 Jan 2012, 7:50 pm

#882698

Thankyou, clears a lot of confusion.😏

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 23 Jan 2012, 1:14 pm

#882816

sucks that no type 4s were sold here.

that expains why I never seen one here.

less than 20 type 34s 🤪 no love there.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE