1970 Type 3 reverse lights - dealer option?

I was checking my lights prior to the rego inspection and I noticed that both reverse lights were not working. So I took off the Orange-Red-White lenses and found that the reverse light globe holders had some a very "vw factory" looking plugs in them, on both sides.

❓ Is is possible that reverse lights were a dealer option on early 1970 examples of late shape type 3's?

I know that reverse lights were an option on Beetles and Kombis in the early 70's, so I can't see why they wouldn't be an option on the Type III's.

Do you know if the wiring is there for the reverse lights? Has the gearbox been fitted with the reverse light switch?

I'm not sure about the laws where you are, but in Qld if the car is fitted with reverse lights (or the rear light cluster has the clear part in the lens) the lights must work for it to pass roadworthy....All the Bugs and Busses that were not fitted with reverse lights in the factory were fitted with tail light lenses that were red where the clear reverse light part of the lens would normally be. I would assume that the same would have been done with the Type III's...?

R 🙂

Yes, they were a dealer option. Also listed as such in the glovebox manual.
I needed to wire in the gearbox switch and metal bulb holder prongs to get then working for a Rego in Victoria, easy to do.

ratty 63 wrote:I know that reverse lights were an option on Beetles and Kombis in the early 70's

Not with Beetles it wasn't.
It's only cos so many have had repairs done that theres lots out there with them.
The provisions were there from 68-71 but nothing actually fitted only because they were standard requirement overseas and it saved making 2 separate parts.
The lenses used had a red section instead of clear for reverse lights.
They have been NLA for along time now which is why most have reverse light lenses fitted but no reverse lights

Reverse lights weren't fitted to bugs at all in Oz till the start of the 72 model run.


Same deal with Kombis, up till 71 they werent required so just had the little oval lights that splitties had in the 60s then 72 the long taillights started with reverse lights standard.

Joel wrote:... because they were standard requirement overseas ...

I didn't realise that we were different in Aust (in relation to reverse lights). My late Grandma's '68 came standard with reverse lights - but it was built to European Specs and was sold as part of the program where you could pick up your car from the factory in Germany and use it for your European holiday, then return it to VW for them to ship it home (yes - it is RHD)... so that would explain that.

Joel wrote:Same deal with Kombis, up till 71 they werent required so just had the little oval lights that splitties had in the 60s then 72 the long taillights started with reverse lights standard.

Are you sure that all Kombi came standard with reverse lights after '72? My brother had a '73 Panel in his workshop a couple of weeks ago that had to have the reverse light wiring and switch fitted. It wouldn't pass roadworthy with the crazed and faded lenses that didn't have the clear reverse section in them (they were orange at the top and red all the way to the bottom). When they removed the lenses to replace them with the (now) standard orange/red/clear lenses they found that the backing plate/bulb holder did not even have the 'hollow' in the moulding for a reverse light. My brother tells me that he has seen this before but it is unusual and it only seems to happen on the 'commercial' vans (panels & utes).... perhaps it was standard to fit reverse lights, but there was a rarely used option to leave them out to save a few dollars....?

I know that my '73 Twin Cab has reverse lights fitted...

R 🙂

Being a Euro bug is why that one had reverse lights.

But all Aus bugs till the start of the 72 model did have the spot for the reverse light but just had these non reverse type lenses



They havent been reproduced for a long time so most just get fitted with dummy reverse light lenses.

You could be right about Kombis though, I havent had much exposure to them.

All the overseas ones before the long tail lights started just had seperate reverse lights above the tail lights.