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How can I recognise a \'60 Bug?

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phantom Wolfsburg Wizard

598 posts · joined Mar 2004 ·

#154599
Bought a '60 and '69 Bug on the weekend, I have just checked the chassis number and confirmed it is a '60, I'd like to restore it back to an original 60 in looks anyway and believe it has had 'add-ons' put on. Can anyone help?

What I am looking at are mainly the following areas:

- Indicators - it has front amber flashers on the wheelarch, and rear flasher / tail / brakelights (combination), which I thought were later beetle. It also has the remains of what appear to be lights on the B pillar, did this year model have semaphores? If so, did they recess into the pillar or sit external? The remains have what looks like a bracket mounted external to the pillar, so either a lens or semaphore unit would stick out from the car

- Fuel gauge - it has a fuel gauge seperate to the main instrument, did this model have a gauge or just the cutover switch?

- Boot (front) - do they lock? Just a handle, no button on the front, so they don't lock? If they did, where was the release?

Would love to hear from anyone on these aspects, also would like to email anyone who has a 60 so that I can learn more about it. Thanks....
www.canberravw.com

ByronBug High Priestess of Unequaled Coolness & Flower Child

1,446 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#154608
:sandrine
I own a 61...
The early 60's have thinner indicaters than the fatter later ones (on the front guard)
Earlier than 61 had the semaphores indicators on the pillar.
Mine being a 61 didn't have fuel gauge But mine was put in.
The front boot does come lock with key.
you can get a locksmith to cut you the key for it, or buy a new one at your nearest VW shop
The 70's one has the button, early its just the handle to turn.
to open you bonnet look at your dash & down near the passengers leg area, on the bottom of the dash you will find the knob to pull it & release you boot open.
Find out what year you have, grab a manual & off you go.
Manuals can be bought new or found at VW swap meets
or even buy one off ebay.
Also look out on the internet the model changes from year to year as that really helpful also
Hopefully I have answered at least something you wanted to know...
You are welcome to email me if you want to know anything more... pattisonm@dodo.com.au
Judy
59 Microbus Kombi (MERCY)
64 Microbus Kombi (CHANNON)



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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#154860
The early 60 Beetle still had trafficators [no blinkers].
but the 60 1/2 Beetle had small narrow clear front indicators
located on the guards, but very close to the bonnet, not out where they are on later models, and Very Rare tail Lamps. they are half Amber & half Red..
they are slightly smaller than the 62> tail lamps but a similar shape. They were made by Hella in Germany but only used in Australia & italy in late 60 & 61 Only.... They are Very rare.
I do have photos of them if anyone is interested.
There was an original 1960 1/2 beetle at the nationals last year. My Son does have one of these rear lenses.
I'm NOT sure whether the early 60 had pull out door handles, as the later one had push button door handles..
They did NOT have a fuel gauge just the fuel handle.
and the bonnet locked by pushing it down and the knob inside when pulled, opened it.. I don't know where this bonnet key lock would be... they also had the small number plate lamp..
You could buy from Hella back in those trafficator days. an external amber flasher unit that could be seen from both front & rear... I do still have a couple of these somewhere.
they bolted in where the trafficators where located. It was a chrome strip , to cover the trafficator hole up, and the amber lense extended outwards, it was roughly 1/2 round shape...


Lee

[Edited on 30-3-2004 by 68AutoBug]
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#154894
here is photo of the rare 1960 [late] & 1961 Tail Lamps.
If it isn't too large that is...
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---