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57 or 58?
butmonkeys - August 29th, 2006 at 04:09 PM

Hi can anyone tell me is there a 57 big window or are they all 58s ,how can you tell them apart as my beetle may just be a 57 not a 58 any help please.????

ColumBUS - August 29th, 2006 at 04:13 PM

57's made before july (???) the oval window, whilst later 57s had the large window... im not sure if they were labelled as a 58 though... check your vin numbers and vehicled id plate

butmonkeys - August 29th, 2006 at 05:45 PM

Thanks CoumBUS the number under the back seat is 1612857 the front plate has type 1/11 and 1612857 and c1146 engine no1940195 when i bought the car in QLD it said 1957 on rego papers but when i took the car for a blue slip the mechanic told me there is no 57 big window only 58s ,but i have since been told there is 57 big windows.Can anyone help me find the year of my car please.???????

Joel - August 29th, 2006 at 05:51 PM

the last few months of 57 were big windows
it wasnt till the till the mid 60s i think when they started going by the german year 1 august to 31 july

usless trivia - the last oval window was built on july 31 1957 chassis # 16000439 engine number 1937450

the mechanic just was probably just going on the fact that 57 was the last year ovals were built and it wouldnt have been till early 58 by the time big windows were crusing the streets here

-Joel

68AutoBug - August 29th, 2006 at 07:15 PM

One of My books says that the large rear window was introduced on the 1st August 1957 at chassis number 1600400
same time the throttle roller was replaced by a pedal..

Your beetle was made in early August 1957...
First month of the Larger rear window and windscreen.

chassis number 1394120-1774680 1st jan-31st dec 1957
engine number :1678210-2158321 1st jan-31st dec 1957

the vw years on the internet say large windscreen & rear window introduced in 1958.. which is incorrect.

so, Yes, You have a 1957 Beetle with the larger windscreen and rear window.

cheers

Lee

butmonkeys - August 30th, 2006 at 11:14 AM

Thank you 68autobug it seems the original owner was right and the mechanic was wrong.So are these more rare than the oval and does anyone whant to buy QLD number plates 58dub as there no use to me now cheers.?????

amazeer - August 30th, 2006 at 12:22 PM

There was one for sale in Club VeeDub magazine last month. 29years in a shed etc. Is this the same one?

butmonkeys - August 30th, 2006 at 05:06 PM

No this one was for sale here a while ago but i kept it was also at the blast from the past in berry it is cream and burgandy some one may remember it.