I have a 65 beetle, I am trying to work out what is and isn't original in the car.
From what I can see my rear vision mirror is off the earlier model, as the visors only attach to the mirror. No roof bracket. Did they come out like that.
What did the original side mirror look like?
Was it a door hinge job? Mine looks like an old torana mirror and restricts the quarter window. That mirrors days by the way are numbered.

If you post up some pics people will be able to spot the un-original things pretty easily

Simon, your just that few seconds ahead of me. yeah, pictures all the way, Some crazy cats will tell you whats go and no no!

Yeh, I'm on my lunch break so rushing things as usual

Thanks guys will have to take some photo's of interior.
The side mirror I know is wrong. What did they originally come with do you know?

exterior door mirror .not genuine needs to be gone

looks like a kingswood mirror in your avatar

aus bugs had the mirror mount visors till the fatchik change over in late 67
from about 65 or 66 they have the mounting points for the later ones but no holes there

as for the door mirrors they were hinge mounts but allsorts have been fitted over years including to many old holden ones

Thanks,
I am just trying to establish what is right and what needs to go.
The side mirror is going, it annoys the hell out of me.
Did drivers side doors come with arm rest?
My drivers door trim appears to be original, but no arm rest.
Sorry for all the questions just trying to get it sorted before the respray!

no better place than here to find out

nah only a passengers side armrest if its got the 2 tone door panels with the creamy/off white center panel

If you are wanting to take your 65 beetle back to original a good place for information and manuals is thesamba.com. Spend some time browsing around it's a fantastic site. i used it so much when I was planning to restore my beetle, Bel

I've added 2 website links, so just move you curser to the end of the sentence on the first one, and then below on the second ..they don't stand out until your curser is over them

Here's the online manual for your beetle 60-65 beetle owner's manual

Here's a cool brochure produced for the 65 beetle
'How to get the most out of your beetle' 1965 Aussie brochure

When your on thesamba site, go to Archives & then literature...there are old ads, colour charts and heaps of stuff


Good luck and enjoy your beetle

Thanks again!
Little strange no arms rest but the trim you described is it. This will mean closing by the handle? ouch!
Thanks will check the owners manual on line.

You can get door pulls, I them them on Bel, it does make closing the door from the inside easier

What do they look like?
where do you get them?
Thanks for your help.

use any info on thesamba as a rough guide only
US spec differs greatly from aus spec, especially when it comes to mid 60s bugs

Gooday Mengyou

OK I have 2 65s one completely stock and he other completely modified I can tell u every change between 63 to 65 n 67

whats yr chassis number for a start

what are you wanting to do with the car as well where r u located ???

I am currently in Paris and will be back next week so may take an a while to answer

Dave

Sounds like the best idea, using top of the door.
Dave I would like to get it close to original, with the exception of the motor, 12 volt electrics and paint.
Chassis # 195880236 . I Live Sydney.
Thanks again.

Most older beetles don't have door pulls, it's more about if you want to accessorize a bit, or if you would find it more convenient to have something to pull the door shut with? Each to their own as you find with most things

Here's picture of a beetle interior with door pulls
Door Pulls

I was able to source old hard to get accessories through thesamba .. but networking on here also..depending on how crazy you want to go


They seem to be EMPI door pulls...someone on here might have some? (only if you are interested)
EMPI interior accessories

Again EMPI is an individual choice but is very popular with VW enthusiasts ..

This is Wolfsburg West and their parts are available at Vintage VW in Sydney where I got a lot of my stuff from
Wolsfburgh West

Use Dave's offer of help, he has years of experience and has top restorations. Dave is pretty much always there if you have questions..plus use some of the other areas of this forum to ask questions or if you are after parts

You'll make lots of friends and contacts, and be able to network a bit on here. Take any chance you get to look at someone else's 65 beetle to see what they've done and get a feel for where you want to head

Sorry for all the info... which may not be needed BUT a new project gets me excited

Every bit of info helps. I am grateful for the help.

yep OK so u have a aussie 65 195 indicates this

what bits r u missing ??

so things can be got new n other u will have to source S/H

the door close trick is typical of one that needs the locks adjusting and a bit of fiddling if the gaps are good and the hinge pins also

do u have all the stainless steel side trim ?? what about seats do u want them origional or after market

I am near hurstville so only a short trip down M5

Thanks Dave, I think I will take that trip to hurstville when you are back.
Yes I have all the stainless steel trim.
Drivers seat was from an older model but have found a reason original( not cracked or torn). I want to stick with original, although I do miss not having a head rest( my wife brings this to my attention everytime she is in the car).
I have a feeling that I will need a pin for the bottom passenger side door before it is painted.
Probably alot more I don't know yet. Still learning.

You can get period accessory head rests, but they are reasonably rare.

I will put them on my list. Something to keep an eye out for.
Thank ya

Are you painting the dub yourself or have someone doing it? When does it start? I you have someone are they a VW specialist?

Reason I'm asking is cos a VW place may have a door pin for you, they usually have heaps of used parts. Drop into a VW workshop and see if they have one to sell you?

If not, put a Wanted post on here
Buying, selling and swapping section of forum

You never know what someone might be able to sell you..you just have to ask on here. This is where I got my Goldie ragtop clip from when I was sourcing all the bits I wanted before I had Bel's restoration started. Sometimes you can get rare parts or accessories if you're lucky

Having somebody do the paint for me, hopefully within the next week or two. I think door pin could be alright. The whole hinge was loose. Although I want to put in a pin drivers side door with mirror mount.

I think may roof may have been relined, the lining does not have the holed pattern is that right?

Depends on what your existing lining looks like. Australian '64 VWs had the 'Vynex' non-holed material that tore into neat strips. Yes 1965 was the first year of the holed vinyl trim, but yours could be a very early '65 that uses up 'old stock' of '64 parts.

The early '60s Vynex trim is a three-part roof design - the large centre piece, and an addition 'cornice' piece for each side (ie where the interior light goes), which goes from the back window to the front corners. The later holed vinyl roof is just one piece. Both will fit, but the earlier cornice pieces were held in place by metal tabs welded to the body. You will see around 5cm of these at the front, as the one-piece roof kit won't completely cover them.

The roof kits you buy from West Coast Metric etc are good and will give a pretty good result, but they are bloody hard to fit. I recommend paying a professional trimmer to do it properly for you. I was never 100% happy with the kit I fitted to mine.

my 65 has stripy, I didn't think the holes came in til later *shrugs*
Mine was sold on May 25 1965, not sure on the production date.

cool, froms Phils description it appears mine may have been redone.
Thanks