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building a later beetle to resemble an early model

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DungBeetle Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Oct 2013 ·

#974814
Currently in search of my first beetle, due to my budget I'm restricted mostly to bugs in the 70-78 year range however I'm more keen on earlier bugs.

Is it possible to mix and match panels from different years to make a later bug look earlier?

I have seen a few people dropping earlier shells on later floor pans but would the mis matching vin's cause any drama's with registration/legalities?
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pod i`ve got to finish this thing one day

4,980 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#974816
shouldnt be a problem as it would be registered as the later pan year ,the body hasnt got a number as such , am looking at doing similar with my 69 body ,putting earlier front guards etc but still using the short bonnet ,as there is a lot to do to get the latching changed , back decklid is easier as you can change the rear valance to be removable ,then use the earlier valance , most people call them wrong-uns, its just that i like the earlier look ,but i like my semi -auto as well , i looked on Volkzone and got a few threads about it all , but as some will say ,if you havent got one yet best to just start with an early
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=861929&highlight=late+beetle+early+panels
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DungBeetle Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Oct 2013 ·

#974825
yeah I'd like to tart with an early but they are out of my price range, they do pop up from time to time in a state of disrepair but I need to buy something that's running, plenty of late 70's examples going for around the $3500 mark with only minor things needed for rwc but not much earlier than that.
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Klaus Custom Title Time!

1,439 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#974837
I know of a 65 ish for 2500 -3000 very clean orig paint , contact "okrasa power" on here its in syd

modnrod Fahrvergnugen

978 posts · joined Mar 2011 ·

#974845
The Euro's have their "Standard 1200" model. It looks basically like a big window (eg 1970s or so) complete with air vents behind the side rear glass, but with early sloping headlights, long bonnet and early 2-colour small tail lights.

Put on the guards and lights you want them tell everybody it's a special import.........😉

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#974855
One thing you will have to watch if re bodying is the body will have to meet the ADRs for the chassis, eg if its after 1/73 it has to have a padded dash, after 12/74 needs charcoal canister, 10/71 needs reverse lights and highback seats etc to be legal

Make sure if you do wanna go that way you get a Beetle not a superbug, the vast majority of 70s bugs in Aus are Superbugs as people wanted bigger engine, disc brakes and better suspension.
They dont make early look bugs easily or well, front bonnet sits higher, guards dont swap etc.

Also the 72onwards bugs with the bigger back window really dont look right when people try to make them look early.

modnrod wrote:The Euro's have their "Standard 1200" model. It looks basically like a big window (eg 1970s or so) complete with air vents behind the side rear glass, but with early sloping headlights, long bonnet and early 2-colour small tail lights.

Put on the guards and lights you want them tell everybody it's a special import.........😉
It's really only the early bumpers and tail lights that are different externally with them
THey never had the sloping headlights after 68, even the 1200s had to go to upright headlights, they just kept the old style horn grilles till about 72.
Fiiting early guards to them is just a swap people have done in the past, wasnt factory.



THey just had the mid 60s style tail lights up till 73, after that they had to go the big sqaure bumpers and round elephants feet tail lights to meet regulations.

They didnt have the rear side crescent vents either, just the indentation of where they were meant to be.

DungBeetle Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Oct 2013 ·

#974889
yeahI'm aware of the difference between superbugs and regular bugs.

rule of thumb is if the spare tyre sits flat, it's a super.

maybe I'll have to piece one together, you know find a chassis and fix that up while looking for a body.

I'm in brisbane so there's not a great deal of them available for sale in my price bracket, just have to see how I go I suppose.
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Newt Wolfsburg Wizard

478 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#975307
Just on ADR.

A collapsable steering wheel and laminated front window goes in at some year as well.

Newt
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AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#976824
Beetles never had a laminated windscreen in Australia.

Seat belts could be a problem.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

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

Newt Wolfsburg Wizard

478 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#976875
Interesting - what happens now with Beetles.

My winscreen man said it was illegal for him to instal a non laminated front windscren.

Newt
It is as it is - If you didnt enjoy today, you've missed the opportunity.

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#976908
Newt wrote:Interesting - what happens now with Beetles.

My winscreen man said it was illegal for him to instal a non laminated front windscren.

Newt
Simple - they install laminated ones.

O'Brien replaced the one in my 70 bug a few months back (free - thanks Shannons) and there wasn't even a question/comment on it.
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Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#976911
You'll be hard pressed to find many VWs still with original windscreens.
In the last 14 years I've put 3 windscreens in mine thanks to rocks.
The rocks usually bounce of the bonnet straight into it.

Even if they don't get badly chipped or cracked by rocks they are usually so badly etched after 4+decades that driving at night is like trying to see through news paper.

CC Super Bug Commited Dubber

55 posts · joined May 2013 ·

#979318
Joel wrote:You'll be hard pressed to find many VWs still with original windscreens.
In the last 14 years I've put 3 windscreens in mine thanks to rocks.
The rocks usually bounce of the bonnet straight into it.

Even if they don't get badly chipped or cracked by rocks they are usually so badly etched after 4+decades that driving at night is like trying to see through news paper.
Mine still has the OG windscreen with 38 lots of razor blade scratches from the lil old lady trying to remove rego labels!!
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Newt Wolfsburg Wizard

478 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#979548
What about coupes, do they do laminated fronts (and can they be sourced locally)?

Cheers

Newt
It is as it is - If you didnt enjoy today, you've missed the opportunity.