Front guards on a 1963 beetle ??? input needed

Hi guys, trap for young players. painted 2 guards and didn’t notice the indicator holes, one closer to the inner guard then the other. photo's attached.

my question is: from what year after the oval to 1967 did they change the front guards. I know on the 1959-60, maybe 61 they used a thinner front indicator but not sure of the location of the hole. can someone clear this up for me please. you think i would have noticed before i painted it......bugga......😬

image

The change to the front blinkers was made for the 1964 model. The new blinkers were wider and mounted slighter further out and forward than the narrower earlier blinkers.

There is no definitive changeover date, as the Australian factory had a policy of using up old parts before switching to the newer deisgns. 1964 Aussie models went to these new blinkers, plus the wider rear licence plate light, but is is common to find early 1964 models with the 1963 blinkers, or 1963 licence plate light, or both. My old '64 had both changes, but mine was made in June 1964.

Ok, so they never used the wider blinkers in the earlier guards? From factory.

Nope, narrower blinkers only with the earlier guards. If I remember correctly, the large centre hole is slightly smaller with the earlier guards, so the bigger rubber for the later blinkers won't fit.

Of course over 50 years previous owners could have installed anything!

Can anyone give me a price guide to What price I would pay for a set of old blinkers the narrow type. Does anyone have any for sale?

58 & 59 guards were wider too arent they?

You're not the first bloke to do it, you see beetles a lot with cock eyed blinkers.
Same deal with the rear, a lot don't realize the 60-61 tail lights are lower and many beetles with mismatch guards look like the guy from the goonies from the back with one tail light lower than the other.

Looking at your right guard with how rough that blinker hole is I think you'll find that is actually from a semaphore car that originally had no blinkers and someone has cut that hole in it to suit a later model with indicators.

Allbones wrote:58 & 59 guards were wider too arent they?

Nope same width, just no indicator hole originally.

I have a 1963 shell, what colour lens should the indicators have clear or orange. i have found a link in the states. looks like i can buy them new but come in 2 colours.
says its for a 58-63 not real sure with the states models if this is the correct part. can anyone confirm?

http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/front-turn-assemblies-lenses/front-turn-signal-assy-w-clear-lens-113953041-a

http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/front-turn-assemblies-lenses/front-turn-signal-assy-w-amber-lens-113953041

The originals were clear but for safety reasons most people put in either amber ones or amber bulbs