how to identify 65/66 beetle as 1200/1300/deluxe?

rob53 Officially Full-On Dubber

385 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 29 Jul 2010, 1:19 pm

#793302

As per the title,
I'm trying to figure out what type of beetle I have.
Its a 66 built late 65 to mid 66 based on VIN.

RTA just have it listed as 'beetle', but they said that engine was listed between 1200 and 1300 cc. (They won't give me specifics cause it's unregistered due to privacy act blah blah)

Are there any ways to identify what it originally was? Ie did 1200 have badge on decklid?

Thanks
Rob

Thats not rust, it's ah ... orange primer ... yep that's what it is ...

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Jul 2010, 1:37 pm

#793308

rob53 wrote:As per the title,
I'm trying to figure out what type of beetle I have.
Its a 66 built late 65 to mid 66 based on VIN.

RTA just have it listed as 'beetle', but they said that engine was listed between 1200 and 1300 cc. (They won't give me specifics cause it's unregistered due to privacy act blah blah)

Are there any ways to identify what it originally was? Ie did 1200 have badge on decklid?

Thanks
Rob

only the 1300 had the engine size badge...

the 1200 may have had a "deluxe" badge..?

its most likely a 1300... most were then..

cheers

LEE

- 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 · 29 Jul 2010, 7:16 pm

#793347

1200s had no decklid script, 1300s had a 1300 script and deluxe if it was.
Standards just had 1300.

Also if the car and tinware has not been repainted, 1200s had the Use genuine parts blah blah sticker on the fanshroud, 1300s had it inside the glovebox lid

66deluxe Custom Title Time!

1,593 posts · joined Aug 2005 · 29 Jul 2010, 7:50 pm

#793354

My 66 Deluxe VIN starts with 196 then remaining numbers.

This is my Volkswagen, there are many like it, but this one is mine. Without me my Volkswagen is useless, without my Volkswagen, I am useless.

61 Karmann Ghia 2110cc type1 w Los Panchito's
66 Deluxe Beetle 2270 type 4
10 Subaru WRX Impreza

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 29 Jul 2010, 8:40 pm

#793369

Yes Joel is right, the 1965-and-earlier Deluxe 1200s did not have any numbers, script or lettering on the engine lid at all. The 1200 Deluxe was discontinued in March 1966.

The 1966 Aussie Deluxe went up to 1300, and initially just had '1300' on the engine lid. The 'Deluxe' script was added in late 1966 and continued through 1967.

As we've mentioned in other posts, look at the back of the speedo, under the chrome front blinker covers, and on all five wheel centes, for date stamps. If original, these give a better indication of when the car was made than do lists of chassis numbers on US websites like samba. The Americans freak out when they see Aussie chassis numbers beginning 196, 197 and 198 - which they don't understand.

The Australian factory was allocated chassis number 'blocks' so that a sequence was not used in another factory. In Melbourne it was possible for chassis pans to be stamped, then sit in storage for months before being used, especially in 1966-67 when sales were winding down. Apart from giving the year model, the chassis number is really only a general guide to when DURING that year it was made.

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rob53 Officially Full-On Dubber

385 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 30 Jul 2010, 10:13 am

#793432

Unfortunately the car is not in very original condition now, but it does have the use genuine parts sticker inside the glovebox lid. But there is no badge on the decklid. I'll sand down the paint to see if there is any bog filling any badge holes and if the decklid is likely to be original.

The wheels are all wide 5 studs which have 65 stamped on them.
Did these beetle's ever have wide 5 studs?

The spare is a smaller size (width) which seems standard.

Thats not rust, it's ah ... orange primer ... yep that's what it is ...

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 Aug 2010, 8:57 am

#793754

No, VW never fitted wide wheels as standard. Your spare is the standard size (15 x 4" from memory). Australian VWs had these wheels fitted until the early months of 1968 when the new 12V '68 model replaced the Aussie Deluxe.

Just open your engine lid and look at the underside - you'll soon see if it once had holes for badges there.