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tombstone tail light differences

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Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#896731
Apart from the obvious colour difference between the earlier & later tombstone lenses (red/amber & red/amber/clear) are there any other differences between them.. Is the shape slightly different? Will they both fir on the smae housing/assembly?

Can you still get decent lenses that wont crack & fade after a period in the sun? I'm needing some for my '72 standard beetle in red/orange/clear combination.

Thanks
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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#896734
Hi
they are ALL the same unless You have tail lamps off a USA spec beetle in 1971-72
they were longer because they had reflectors on the side of the housings [USA laws]

the 1968-72 beetle tail lamps in Australia were all the same apart from Amber/RED and AMBER/RED/CLEAR

Mexican tail lamp lenses are crap.. the plastic is hard and its painted inside... they fade fast and will crack too..

I'm told to get acrylic lenses..?? but how you tell I don't know.
Hella lense prices have gone sky high..
the pair on My car now I bought from the USA many years ago.. were very cheap then... and seem great quality..
I don't know if CIP1 have any lenses made in the USA..
they do have parts that are made in the USA..

Pollak was a brand name on some lenses many years ago,,
they just faded over the years.. seemed good quality..
don't know where they came from.??
I've had two sets with no brands that weren't good quality..

and am on the lookout for good quality ones..too..

if You are buying from the USA don't buy 1971-72 lenses..
I have the rubber gaskets that fit that lamp to the body,,lol
that I bought at a swap meet... lol

cheers

LEE

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#896735
That's because he's fallen into the same trap many newbies do by buying American parts which are different.

In aus they are the same except the 72 has the clear reverse light section at the base, but most non reverse light 68-71 bugs have these ones now as well.


Edit, Lee you're too quick, beat me to the punchline 😂

Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#896738
As discussed in another post, VVDS have some Hella amber/red/clear ones for a 72 and I just bought 2 of them as they are pretty hard to get now.

Grab some while you can.

Yogie